Physics Investigation: Speed

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Physics Investigation: Speed

In this investigation I am finding out how the height of a ramp affects the speed of a toy car.

To do this, I first need to know about speed and gravity.

I know the equation for speed is: Speed = Distance

                                                                      Time

From that equation I can now work out what the speed of the toy car will be, when I know the distance the ramp is and the time it took the car to come down the ramp.

Now, gravity is a bit more complicated:                                               Over three centuries ago, Isaac Newton invented a new kind of mathematics called calculus so that he could model motion in the natural world using mathematics. Calculus is about measuring change and so calculus became a vital tool in describing the motions of simple objects.
Newton was able to make a mathematical model that encompassed both objects falling because of gravity on Earth, and the motion of heavenly bodies in the skies. Newton decided that the force of gravity on Earth was the same force that organized the motions of the moon around the Earth and the Earth and all the planets around the sun. He invented a formalism and developed mathematical formulas for calculating the size of the gravitational force both on Earth and in outer space.

This (more simply) means that there is a force in the Earth that attracts all objects to it, so that they (or we) don’t float in the air. Depending on how high an object is away from the ground, the gravity will be higher in the object, but the gravity on the Earth is always the same.

Equation for gravity: Mass of object x 10 x height

Variables

 

There is only one variable in this experiment and that is:

  • The height of the ramp

Fair Test

To make it a fair test you must:

  • Use the same toy car (same weight)
  • Have the same person timing(reactions)
  • Apply the same force, push the car with the same power (ie. Use the same person, same force at ‘A’)
  • Use same ramp(same distance and same surface of ramp)
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Prediction

I predict that the higher the ramp, the faster the toy car will go. I predict this because the higher the car is, the stronger the force of gravity on the car, and so the faster the car will go. The car will also gain speed (accelerate) as it goes down the ramp so it will start slower higher up but accelerate and finish at its maximum speed.

I also predict that the smoother the surface is, the faster the car will go and if the car is heavier, it will also go faster (mass won’t make ...

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