Find out what happens to the distance travelled by two standard tubes of different circumferences down a wooden ramp

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Toni Bull 9A2

Coursework.

Aim- 

To find out what happens to the distance travelled by two standard tubes of different circumferences down a wooden ramp propped up by books, when I alter the height of the ramp and make the release height higher, and also whether the circumference of the tube affects the distance travelled.

Background Information –                                                                                                                            As the tube is higher up, it will have more potential energy so it will carry on rolling further. We can work this out by using this formula: E = m x g x h. There will be different amounts of friction depending on the texture of the surface on the ramp and on the floor that the tube is rolling onto; this will also affect the speed gained by the tube. Also another force acting upon the ramp and the tubes will be gravity. Gravity will be pulling the tube down and so the more energy it has the faster it will go. This will only happen though if the speed of the tube is greater than the gravitational pull acting upon the tube. Obviously, the more potential energy the trolley has got, the faster it will move down the ramp. So, theoretically, the only factors that can affect this experiment are the height and the mass and the gravity. Since we can only possibly conduct this experiment on Earth, the gravity will always stay constant – about 10m/s2 (or 9.82m/s2 to be more precise). The only factors left are the variables I will be experimenting with in this investigation

Prediction-                                                                                                 I think that as the slope gets higher the distance travelled from the top of the slope will increase with both tubes but not as much with the smaller circumference tube because both tubes will be travelling at faster speed. Also it depends on the pull of gravity and the speed as if the gravitational pull is even a tiny bit bigger than the speed it will slow the tube down drastically. I predict that my results graph will look similar to this, because as I have told you numerous times, the distance will decrease even though the potential energy will increase. I think that the speed will only slowly decrease though. I also think the lighter the tube the further it will travel.

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 Equipment-

  • Wooden ramp
  • Books to prop up the ramp
  • Metre ruler
  • Plastic tubing x2

Method- 

Take the ramp and prop it up using some books. Use a metre ruler to measure the height, and record this to the nearest centimetre. Draw a line on the ramp so you know where to hold the tube and don’t hold it over the line. Gently let go of the tubing, but make sure you don’t push it, if you do it will gain more energy and make it an unfair test. Wait and see where it stops. ...

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