Introduction

When you examined an object moving with constant velocity in introductory Activity 2, you learned two important points about the line of best fit to the graph of position vs. time:

  1. The slope (rate of change) of the graph was constant and gave the velocity of the object.
  2. The intercept gave the initial position of the object.

In this experiment, you will examine a different kind of motion and contrast features of the position-time and velocity-time graphs with those you have studied earlier.

Objectives

In this experiment, you will

  • Collect position, velocity, and time data as a cart rolls up and down an inclined track.
  • Analyze the position vs. time and velocity vs. time graphs.
  • Determine the best fit equations for the position vs. time and velocity vs. time graphs.
  • Distinguish between average and instantaneous velocity.
  • Use analysis of motion data to define instantaneous velocity and acceleration.
  • Relate the parameters in the best-fit equations for position vs. time and velocity vs. time graphs to their physical counterparts in the system.