Relationship Between Acceleration on a ramp and Acceleration due to gravity

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between acceleration on a ramp and acceleration due to gravity, particularly in the context of an experimental lab setup involving inclined planes. The original poster describes their experiment, including measurements and calculations related to the ramp's angle and height, and expresses confusion about deriving a relationship between the ramp's acceleration and gravitational acceleration.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the use of various equations related to motion on inclined planes, questioning the validity of assumptions made about acceleration and the role of gravitational force. There is an exploration of the relationship between kinetic energy and linear versus rotational motion.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants seeking clarification on the formulas related to inclined planes and the underlying concepts. Some guidance has been offered regarding the need to visualize the problem through diagrams, and participants are actively questioning the assumptions and interpretations presented.

Contextual Notes

There are indications of confusion regarding the application of trigonometric functions in the context of inclined planes, as well as a lack of consensus on the correct interpretation of the equations involved. The original poster notes a refusal from their TA to provide further explanation, highlighting a potential gap in understanding key concepts.

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Homework Statement


We performed a lab to find an experimental value of gravity. I used a ramp with a height of 0.08 m, and the ramp was 1 m long. The ramp made an angel of approximately 4.59 degrees with the horizontal. We used software to calculate velocity with respect to time and position with respect to time graphs. Using the formula for our position over time graph which was displayed on the graph as Ax^2+Bx+C, with an A value of 0.2236, which I have assumed for units to ad up is our acceleration value. Now, we need to use some kind of formula to find the relationship between a_ramp and g.

Homework Equations


x=x0+vit+at2
ma=mg
a=g/(sin(angle))
v=d/t
Einitial=Efinal

The Attempt at a Solution


I thought that ma=mg would make a=g/(sin(angle)) but this is incorrect...
Our TA put up something on the board that looked like this:
a=g#
where # is supposedly the fraction of kinetic energy caused by linear instead of rotational motion,
but I have no idea why that is true. I even did the whole energy conservation equation, keeping in mind that vi =0, but I cannot derive any sort of equation to show that this whole a=g# thing is true. Any advice would be helpful; I feel I'm missing some key concept here and my TA refused to talk to me further to allow me to understand.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Doc Al said:
Read up on inclined planes: Inclined Planes
Hi, could you explain why the formula appears to be F=mgsin(angle)? I don't understand from the reading why the sin(angle) is on that side of the equation... Is that just a formula that I should know or is my trigonometry wrong?
 
ScienceSinger said:

I thought that [...] would make a=g/(sin(angle)) but this is incorrect...
Hi SS. http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/5725/red5e5etimes5e5e45e5e25.gif

Show the diagram you drew that led you to this equation.

If the slope was very gentle, this equation of yours would produce huge accelerations along the slope.
 
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