To investigate how the angle of a slope affects the acceleration of a marble.

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Motion Down a Slope

Aim:                

To investigate how the angle of a slope affects the acceleration of a marble.

Introduction:

        As bodies freely roll down a slope they accelerate. Various factors may affect the acceleration.

Variables:        

There are a number of things that affect the acceleration of the marble:

  • Angle/Gradient of slope. Changing the angle of the slope would affect the acceleration of the squash ball as it changes the energy the marble starts with as steeper angles raise the slope start higher so the marble would have more potential energy.
  • Mass of marble. Changing the mass of the marble would affect the acceleration because it means it has more energy pulling it downwards and so would accelerate faster.
  • Surface. Changing the surface may change the amount of friction between the slope and the marble. This would affect the amount of energy absorbed. If there was more friction then more energy is absorbed so the marble has less pushing it along and so accelerates slower.
  • Gravity. A change in the gravity would change the amount of energy pulling down the marble and so change the amount of energy pushing it along and so change the acceleration of the marble.
  • Aerodynamics. A change in the aerodynamics would create a change in the air friction. This would change the amount of energy absorbed and so change the amount of energy left pushing it along changing the acceleration.

I am going to investigate the angle of slope. The other variables must be kept the same. I will use the same marble so that the aerodynamics and mass of the marble stay the same. I will do the experiment in the same place every time and on the same slope so that the gravity and friction will remain relatively constant. This makes the investigation a fairer test.

Measuring Acceleration:

        Acceleration cannot be measured directly. It has to be derived from other measurements. The measurements required are starting speed, distance and time.

        I will use the formula:                S=UT+0.5AT2

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S = Distance (m)                                S=0T+0.5AT2

U = Initial speed=0 every time                S=0.5AT2

T = Time (sec)                                2S=AT2

A = Acceleration                                2S/T2=A

                                                A=2S/T2

Method:

        Set up the equipment as shown above. Place the marble at the top of the slope. Start the stopwatch at the same time as you release the marble and then stop the watch when it reaches the end. Do this 3 times and take the average speed to try to remove anomalous results. Repeat with the slope at: 10o, 20 o, 30 o, 40 o, 50 o, 60 o, 70 o, 80 o, and 90 o.

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