Procedure for an Inclined Plane Lab

[Connie Lewis]

Homework Statement

Question: A car goes down a ramp, and once it hits the floor it must travel 6 metres and then stop. Create the procedure in order to find the angle that the board must be to make this scenerio possible. You cannot test on both the floor and the board at the same time.
Given/Known Data: The car weighs 1.32 kg; the board is 0.93 m long; the car must travel 6 m on the floor.

Homework Equations

d=(Vf)(t)-(0.5)(a)(t^2)
d=(Vi)(t)+(0.5)(a)(t^2)
Fnet = (m)(a)
Ff=(μk)(m)(g)
a=(Vf-Vi)/t
Vf^2=Vi^2 + 2(a)(d)

The Attempt at a Solution

Procedure

1. Draw a free body diagram.
2. Weigh car using scale. Record results.
3. Measure the board to its halfway point using the metre stick. Record results.
4. Find μk of the board.
   1. Use a random acute angle, 40 degrees, to solve for μk.
   2. Set the board to the angle of 40 degrees using the protractor.
   3. Time the car’s descent from the halfway point to the end of the board. Record results.
   4. Find the acceleration using the variables given and found. Record results.
   5. Use the acceleration to solve for the net force of the car. Record results.
   6. Use the net force of the car to solve for the μk of the board. Record results.
5. Find μk of the floor.
   1. Use the spring scale to measure out the applied force for a certain time and distance. Record results.
   2. Find the acceleration using the variables given and found. Record results.
   3. Use the acceleration to determine the net force of the car. Record results.
   4. Use the net force to solve for the force of friction. Record results.
   5. Use the force of friction to solve for the μk of the floor. Record results.
6. Find the distance traveled by the car on the floor at 40 degrees.
   1. Use results from steps four and five in order to find the final velocity of the car on the board. Record results.
   2. Use the initial velocity of the floor--the final velocity of the board--and the results in step five to determine the distance the car travels on the floor. Record results.
7. Use the calculated distance to solve for the angle at which the car will travel six metres.
   1. Use a ratio in order to solve. Record results.

 

[tms]

I think you're over-thinking this. All they're asking for is the angle of the ramp that will make the car go 6 ft. You don't need to measure friction, forces, and so on, just the angle and the distance the car goes.

 

[Connie Lewis]

I think you're over-thinking this. All they're asking for is the angle of the ramp that will make the car go 6 ft. You don't need to measure friction, forces, and so on, just the angle and the distance the car goes.

Sorry, I forgot to add that you cannot test the car on both the floor and the board at the same time.

 

[andrevdh]

I think you are suppose to write out the steps that you intend following when you are experimenting in the lab
and not so try and solve it theoretically. That is how you intend going about the experiment in the lab once
you get there. This is to save time and to get you thinking about what is going to happen or what you
expect is going to happen and how you can solve the problem best experimentally. Maybe a plot of
collected data would help? The problem is then also to decide what data to plot. The statement "you
cannot test..." is a bit confusing. Does it mean that you may only adjust the angle and not do an
experiment with the car just rolling along the floor?