Exploring Experimental Design in AP Physics 1

Kristen Glover guides students through an experimental design question for AP Physics, focusing on graphing techniques to determine acceleration. The session covers plotting data, calculating acceleration, and determining experimental gravity. Factors affecting results, such as rotational inertia, are discussed. The video concludes with an analysis of cart motion, emphasizing position and velocity graphing.

What is the initial position of the cart in the experiment?

• At the bottom of the ramp

• In the middle of the ramp

• At the top of the ramp

• At the end of the ramp

Which equation relates position, time, and acceleration for the cart?

• position = initial position + initial velocity * time + acceleration * time^2

• position = initial position + acceleration * time^2

• position = initial position + initial velocity * time

• position = initial position + initial velocity * time + 0.5 * acceleration * time^2

To create a linear relationship for the graph, what should be plotted on the x-axis?

• Time

• Time squared

• Velocity

• Position

What does the slope of the position vs. time squared graph represent?

• Initial velocity

• Half of the acceleration

• Acceleration

• Initial position

What is the first step in calculating the experimental value for the acceleration of the cart?

• Measure the angle of the incline

• Plot the time squared on the x-axis

• Calculate the slope of the graph

• Determine the initial position

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-1

What additional quantities are needed to calculate the experimental value of gravitational acceleration?

• Time and position data

• Angle of the incline or height and length of the ramp

• Mass of the cart and height of the ramp

• Initial velocity and final velocity

What physical reason, other than friction or air resistance, could lead to a lower experimental value of gravitational acceleration?

• The cart is not aerodynamic

• The ramp is too steep

• The cart is too heavy

• The cart's wheels have rotational inertia

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-1

When the cart is accelerated up the ramp, what is the initial position on the position vs. time graph?

• It depends on the velocity

• A negative value

• Zero

• A positive value

What is the slope of the position vs. time graph when the cart moves up the ramp?

• Positive

• It varies

• Negative

• Zero

What does the area under the velocity vs. time graph represent?

• Displacement

• Acceleration

• Velocity

• Time