Physics 1260 1-D Kinematics

Lab #1

Title: 1-D Kinematics

Learning Objectives:
 Utilize the knowledge of 1-D Kinematics to handle experiments
 Practice creating and interpreting motion graphs and kinematic graphs
 Practice linking these representations to the physical quantities time, position, velocity and acceleration that
describe the motion of objects

Lab Materials:
 Cart, ramp, lab jack, stop watch, meter stick, bank robber setup

Lab Activity:
 Setup:
o Raise one end of the track by making the top of the lab jack to be at ~6 to 8 cm above the table top.
o Place the motion detector near the higher end as shown in the figure.

Figure 1: Activity 1 Setup

 Experiment: (Refer to ‘Introduction to Logger Pro’ to learn about logger pro software and the sensors used
to collect data which are connected to LabPro Interface)

 Activity 1:
 Predict the motion of the moving cart when the cart is placed near the motion detector and released.
 Plot x vs. t, v vs. t, and a vs. t for the motion of the cart.
 Release the cart and record the data using Logger Pro.
 Repeat a couple of times if needed and compare the results with your predictions.
 Record the acceleration for future activity.

Total Points _____

Physics 1260 1-D Kinematics
Lab #1
 Activity 2:
 Predict the motion of the moving cart when the cart is placed away from the motion detector.
 Plot x vs. t, v vs. t, and a vs. t for the motion of the cart.
 Tap the cart so that it rolls towards the detector, stops before hitting and rolls back.
 Repeat a couple of times if needed and compare the results with your predictions.

 Result: Did your experiment match your predictions? (Circle one) Yes/No Why/Why not  Explain

Lab Challenge: (Graded Activity)

Scenario: Bank robbers in a getaway car are on the move. Just as the robbers leave bank, the cops take off from a nearby
police station. The robbers are zooming at top speed in their car, while the cops are accelerating as fast as they can. Both
are making for the state-line, which is not very far from the bank. Will the robbers escape or the cops nab them in the nick
of time?

Figure 2: Lab Challenge

Activity:
 To determine the placement of the police station so that it can be not noticed by the bank robbers. The police station
has to be placed not too far away from the state-line but far enough away from the state-line. It must be placed past
the bank.
 To successfully complete this task, the “state-line” must lie somewhere within the region of the front-half of the
Police car (cart from activities 1 and 2) when the front of the Getaway car reaches the state line.
 Ask for the getaway car to determine the velocity of the car. Devise a technique to determine the velocity without
using the motion detector. Multiple data points should be taken.
 Once you have the velocity of the getaway car, calculate the placement of the police station.
 When you have finished calculations for the placement of the police station, your instructor will watch the placement
of Getaway car and the Police car in front of the buildings, as shown in the figure. You will simultaneously release
both cars and then we’ll see what happens. (Do you need to include the length of the cars in your calculations?)
 Get your instructor to view your launch. You’ll receive 2 points if the cops are able to nab the robbers in the first
try. If you need to go back and make changes and need a retry you will receive 1 point if the cop car nabs the
robbers in the second try and zero if more than two tries are required. Good Luck.

Note: Every group will use the same getaway car. By the way, you won’t have access to the Getaway car
for any practice runs.

Total Points _____