Understanding Motion I – Distance and Time

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PASCO scientific                 Physics Experiment Library: 06020

Science Workshop                P01 Understanding Motion 1

Experiment P01:

Understanding Motion I – Distance and Time (Motion Sensor)

Concept: linear motion

Time: 30 m

SW Interface: 500 & 700

Macintosh® file: P01 Understanding Motion 1

Windows® file: P01_MOT1.SWS

EQUIPMENT NEEDED

•        Science Workshop™ Interface

•        base and support rod

•        motion sensor

PURPOSE

The purpose of this activity is to introduce the relationships between the motion of an object – YOU – and a Graph of position and time for the moving object.

NOTE: This activity is easier to do if you have a partner to run the computer while you move.

THEORY

When describing the motion of an object, knowing where it is relative to a reference point, how fast and in what direction it is moving, and how it is accelerating (changing its rate of motion) is essential. A sonar ranging device such as the Motion Sensor uses pulses of ultrasound that reflect from an object to determine the position of the object. As the object moves, the change in its position is measured many times each second. The change in position from moment to moment is expressed as a velocity (meters per second). The change in velocity from moment to moment is expressed as an acceleration (meters per second per second). The position of an object at a particular time can be plotted on a graph. You can also graph the velocity and acceleration of the object versus time. A graph is a mathematical picture of the motion of an object. For this reason, it is important to understand how to interpret a graph of position, velocity, or acceleration versus time. In this activity you will plot a graph in real-time, that is, as the motion is happening.

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PROCEDURE

For this activity, you will be the object in motion. The Motion Sensor will measure your position as you move in a straight line at different speeds. The Science Workshop program will plot your motion on a graph of position and time. The challenge in this activity is to move in such a way that a plot of your motion on the same graph will “match” the line that is already there.

PART I: Computer Setup

1.        Connect the Science Workshop interface to the computer, turn on the interface, and turn on the computer.

2.        Connect the motion sensor’s stereo phone plugs ...

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