Frictionless ramp. Set the angle, the distance Δx and the initial velocity, then release the cart and read its final velocity vf at the photogate. Record each run in your lab sheet and calculate a yourself.
If you increase the ramp angle while keeping distance and initial velocity fixed, what will happen to final velocity?
Make a prediction, then compare two angles.
Release the cart to get a trial to analyse. Use the displayed, rounded measurements.
a = vf² − vi²2Δx
Square each velocity first, subtract vᵢ² from vf², then divide by twice the distance. Keep extra digits until the last step.
Calculate and check your acceleration to add a point. Try at least three different angles, keeping Δx and vᵢ fixed.
For a frictionless ramp, a = g sin θ. A graph of a against sin θ should form a straight line through the origin, with gradient g ≈ 9.81 m/s². Small variations are expected: the photogate includes ±1% simulated variation in final velocity.
Every release is logged here. Copy the values you need into your data table.
| Trial | Angle θ (°) | Δx (m) | vᵢ (m/s) | vf (m/s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No runs yet. Set the angle, Δx and vᵢ, then press Release cart. | ||||