AP Physics Lab Help: Calculating Acceleration and Distance on an Inclined Ramp

[dukiex3]

I'm new here, so sorry if I post this incorrectly! =/

I've scanned the lab, and the pictures are below.

Homework Statement

Well, the problem statement is in the picture, I guess...

and our givens are that change in X is .35 meters, change in Y is -.91 meters, acceleration of Y = -9.8m/seconds squared, and initial velocity of Y is 0.

Homework Equations

change in y (or x) = (vi)(t) + (1/2)(a)(time squared)
velocity final = velocity inital + (a)(t)
velocity final squared= velocity inital squared + (2)(a)(change in x or y)
change in y (or x) = (1/2)(velocity final-velocity initial) (t)

The Attempt at a Solution

As seen above, we have calculated the time needed for the ball to go from point C into the pan. From this, we then figured out the initial velocity needed for the X component of the ramp. The distance from B-C (though, it has to be greater than zero so that the Y velocity starts at 0) is irrelevant because the velocity for X is always constant. We have figured the acceleration (Sorry I don't have the work for that, my lab partners do.) out by using the equation "velocity final squared= velocity inital squared + (2)(a)(change in x or y)." I am not sure about this acceleration, though. So, we need to figure out the acceleration needed so that at point C, the change in velocity for X = .812 m/s. After we calculate this, we need to find the angle needed for the ramp, and the distance from A-B.


thank you!

 

[Mindscrape]

So, what are you asking about again? I think you more or less have it down, though I got lost in your explanation.

Basically you figure out what initial x velocity you would need for the ball to go the distance from the cliff to the bucket, where the amount of travel time, and thus the initial velocity, is based on how high the cliff is. So if you use energy conservation you can figure out how high your ramp needs to be to give you that initial velocity.

 

[dukiex3]

energy conservation? I guess I'll google that.

 

[dukiex3]

We haven't really talked about that stuff in class, so I don't think I can use it.. any other way?

and thanks, mindscrape, for replying.

 

[Mindscrape]

Yeah, you can always do the classic ramp with an angle way. You will have to sum the x and y velocities at the bottom of the ramp to get the magnitude of velocity though.

By potential energy, which you may or may not be allowed to use, but I don't see why not if you can demonstrate an understanding of it, you can see that the velocity at the end of the ramp will be v = sqrt(2gh) where h is the vertical distance (y distance). At least use it to check your answer.

 

[dukiex3]

lol.. (I don't know if this forum is all anti-lol, so sorry in advance for using it =].) I've honestly never had a physics class before this one, so all I know is what I've been taught, and evidently, I don't know that all too well, either. So, can anyone explain this classic ramp with an angle way? What would my change in Y velocity be?

 

[Mindscrape]

Grrr, lol is not allowed here, physicists are serious and down to business. You haven't done any inclined planes yet? Huh, why do you have this problem then?

http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~vawter/PhysicsNet/Topics/Dynamics/gifs/InclinePlane02.gif

You can either find the velocity at the bottom of the ramp with a fancy inclined plane transformation like in the diagram above, and since all the velocity is in the direction of the transformed x, and there is no velocity in the transformed y direction, then you know the magnitude must be sqrt(v_xtrans^2) = v_xtrans.

Alternatively, you can stick with regular coordinates and not confuse yourself with a transformed coordinate system, and find the velocity in x and the velocity in y based on their respective acceleration components, then find the total magnitude.

 

[andrevdh]

I can't access the pictures. What do I need to do in order to see them?