Lucas Morgan

Slide acceleration practical

Contents:

Introduction: 2, 3
Background: 3, 4
Part A: 5
Part B:

Practical Group: Darcy Kellock, Lucas Morgan

By: Lucas Morgan

Lucas Morgan

Introduction:
The overall aim for our practical investigation is to investigate how the
acceleration of a body will act on a slide depending on the angle of the
slide (Part B) and mass of the particular body (Part A). We aim to get
consistent results by trying to minimise/ control variables such as friction
and reaction time. We are also commenting on the thresh hold angle for a
set mass in order to find when the magnitude of friction is overcome by
the force down the plain of the body.

Equipment:
To investigate this we devised an experiment using the fallowing
equipment:
Wooden plank approximately 2.0m long (as slide)
Stop watch ( to measure the time for the object to travel down the
slide)
Different weights ( to change the mass of the body on the slide)
Plum bob ( to accurately measure the aspects of the slide)
Tape measure ( to measure the distances)
Plastic container ( to contain the weights, plastic because its
relatively frictionless on wood)
Plastic bag ( to contain weights in the container)
Tables, chairs, boxes (to rest the slide on and provide the different
angles)
Sticky tape ( to use as a marker)
Electronic Scales ( to weigh the plastic container, you must add this
to the overall mass of the body)
Calculator (for calculations)

Lucas Morgan

Diagram:

Modifications:
During the experiment we made a number of modifications, these
modifications were made in order to better conduct the experiment. We
originally had a sled instead of a container but we found that this sled
didnt hold the weights and it was not consistent enough with its path, so
instead of the sled we decided to use the plastic container. When
changing one of the masses we put in 0.675 kgs instead of 0.75 kgs but
luckily we did the same with all of the tests. We also aimed to use a wide
variety of angles but found that we couldnt go below a certain angle
because the force due to friction was too much for the container to
overcome, so we only used angles above 23.5o.

Sources of error:
Because we were using a wooden plank as the slide there were different
areas of friction on the board, and the same with the plastic container. In
some cases the container came half on and half of the slide, this would
have changed the magnitude of friction on the container altering its
acceleration. When this occurred we re-did that test in order to keep the
conditions consistent. Because the times were recorded by a person on a
stop watch, that person has a certain reaction time so the times have a
tolerance of + or - 0.2 seconds. Because we measured distances using a
tape measure there is a tolerance of + or 0.001 meters.

Background Physics:

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SI units: SI units are the units in which the desired magnitudes are
measured. In order for the equations to work the magnitudes need to be
in the right unit.

SI units/ Symbols
Compnent
Time
Distance
Acceleration
Force
Angle
Final Velocity
Initial Velocity
Mass

Unit
Seconds (s)
Meters (m)
Meters per second2
(ms-2)
Newtons (N)
Degrees (xo)
Meters per second (ms1
)
Meters per second (ms1
)
Kilograms (kg)

Symbol
t
x
a
F

v
u
m

To calculate the angle () of the slide I will be using: Tan-1(Xv/Xh)

Eg: Tan-1(0.82/1.376) = 30.79o

Xv

Xh
Acceleration: In this practical I will be comparing a=gsin to calculate the
acceleration of the body down the frictionless slide. a=gsin, where g is
the acceleration due to gravity and is the angle that the incline makes to
the horizontal. Eg: a = 9.8sin60, a= 8.5 ms-2
I will be comparing this method of calculating the acceleration to the
method of a=2x/t2, where x is distance in meters and t is time in seconds.
Eg: a= 2(3)/ 1.22, a=4.2ms-1
We use these two equations to give us the theoretical acceleration as well
as the actual acceleration and from this we can see how much velocity is
lost due to friction.
Velocity: The final velocity of a body is given by v=u+at,
Net force: or F is given by the equation F=mass x acceleration. This is
Newtons second law of motion, stating that the acceleration on a body
experiencing an unbalanced force is directly promotional to the new force
and inversely proportional to the mass of the body.
To calculate the Normal force of Fn we use the equation Fn= Fgcos.
Where Fg is mass x force by gravity (9.8)
And therefore Ff=k where
x Fn k is the Coefficient of kinetic friction of
plastic on wood, which is 0.2

Lucas Morgan

Percentage difference: When determining the acceleration of a body using

two different methods there is not one excepted true value of the
acceleration. In these cases we use the percentage difference equation.
This divides the absolute difference of the results by the average of the
results:

Xr: In order to calculate the acceleration of the body we must calculate

the distance it has travelled, this is Xr or X resultant. It is obtained by
Pythagorass theorem a2+b2=c2
Xr
So:
Xh2 + Xv 2=Xr 2

Xv
Xh

Part A: The mass of the body.

Method:
1. Place slide onto either table/chair/box.
2. Mark the starting point on the ramp with sticky tape and then stick plum
bob to that starting point as shown on the diagram on page 2.
3. Measure the Xv and Xh as shown in the diagram on page 2, when
adjusting the height of the plum bob the metal end should be just above
the ground and stationary.
4. Place desired weights into the plastic bag and then into the plastic
container.
5. One person on the stop watch, times how long it takes for the container to
go down the slide. The end point is when the container hits the floor.

Lucas Morgan
6. Record all reading and distances, and repeat steps 4 and 5 using different
weights

Results:
Set angle and different masses, all weights in kilograms and all times in
seconds. The set angle is 30.79o
Mass 1
Time
(1)
Time
(2)
Time
(3)
Time
(4)
Time
(5)
Time
(6)
Time
(7)
Time
(8)
Avg
Time

Mass 2

Mass 3

Mass 4

Mass 5

Mass 6

1.35

1.69

1.57

1.47

1.59

1.63

1.47

1.31

1.4

1.47

1.41

1.56

1.78

1.47

1.41

1.63

1.5

1.4

1.54

1.75

1.62

1.46

1.66

1.59

1.47

1.59

1.78

1.59

1.5

1.9

1.66

1.5

1.71

1.37

1.22

1.34

1.82

1.57

1.6

1.72

1.66

1.75

1.56

1.53

1.57

1.78

1.47

1.47

1.63

1.53

1.47

1.57

1.59

1.84

1.5

1.54

1.43

1.64

1.56

1.53

1.41

1.62

1.54

1
2
3
4

Mass
(kg)
0.5
0.675
1
1.25

5
6
7

1.5
1.75
2

1.602m
0.82m
30.79o
1.376m

Mass 7

"+" sled
mass
(0.1kg)
0.6
0.775
1.1
1.35
1.6
1.85
2.1

Calculations:
Step1. By using the method of a=gsin, the theoretical acceleration of
the body down a frictionless slide is:
a= 9.8 sin 30.790
a= 5.02 ms-2
Step2. By using the method of a=2x/t2, the actual acceleration down
the slide was:
1. Mass 1: a=2(1.602)/(1.432),
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a=1.57 ms-2
2. Mass 2: a=2(1.602)/(1.642),
a=1.19 ms-2
3. Mass 3: a=2(1.602)/(1.562),
a=1.32 ms-2
4. Mass 4: a=2(1.602)/(1.532),
a=1.37 ms-2
5. Mass 5: a=2(1.602)/(1.412),
a=1.61 ms-2
6. Mass 6: a=2(1.602)/(1.622),
a=1.22 ms-2
7. Mass 7: a=2(1.602)/(1.542),
a=1.35 ms-2
Step3. From this we can see that quite a lot of acceleration is lost due
to friction, from the percentage difference equation:
1. [(5.02-1.57)/(5.02+1.57)/2]x100 = 105%
2. [(5.02-1.19)/(5.02+1.19)/2]x100 = 123%
3. [(5.02-1.32)/(5.02+1.32)/2]x100 = 117%
4. [(5.02-1.37)/(5.02+1.37)/2]x100 = 114%
5. [(5.02-1.61)/(5.02+1.61)/2]x100 = 103%
6. [(5.02-1.22)/(5.02+1.22)/2]x100 = 122%
7. [(5.02-1.35)/(5.02+1.35)/2]x100 = 115%
Step4. To calculate the final velocity of the body we use the equation
v=u+at, but because all bodies were stationary at the start u=0, so the
equation becomes v=at:
1. 1.57 x 1.43= 2.24ms-1
2. 1.19 x 1.64= 1.95ms-1
3. 1.32 x 1.56= 2.06ms-1
4. 1.37 x 1.53= 2.09ms-1
5. 1.61 x 1.41= 2.27ms1
6. 1.22 x 1.62= 1.97ms-1
7. 1.35 x 1.54= 2.08ms-1
Step5. The normal force by Fn=Fgcos:
1. (0.6x9.8)cos30.79= 5.0N perpendicular to the plain
2. (0.775x9.8)cos30.79= 6.5N perpendicular to the plain
3. (1.1x9.8)cos30.79= 9.2N perpendicular to the plain
4. (1.35x9.8)cos30.79= 11N perpendicular to the plain
5. (1.6x9.8)cos30.79= 13N perpendicular to the plain
6. (1.85x9.8)cos30.79= 15N perpendicular to the plain
7. (2.1x9.8)cos30.79= 18N perpendicular to the plain
Step6. Force of friction, given by the equation Ff=k x Fn, where
k=0.2
1. 0.2 x 5.0= 1N up the plain
2. 0.2 x 6.3= 1.2N up the plain
3. 0.2 x 9.2= 1.8N up the plain
4. 0.2 x 11= 2.2N up the plain
5. 0.2 x 13= 2.6N up the plain
6. 0.2 x 15= 3.0N up the plain
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7. 0.2 x 18= 3.6N up the plain

Discussion:
As seen on page 7 the two different equations for calculating the
acceleration of the body were quite different. The main reason for their
difference is that the first method (a=gsin) does not take into account
the force of friction (Ff) while the second equation (a=2x/t2) does through
the factor of time. This difference is accounted for in step3 of the
calculations and is shown to be quite extreme with all the results being
over a 100% percentage difference.
So why is there such a large difference? It is because of the friction
between the slide and the container, this is calculated in steps 5 and 6.
And is represented in the table below, as shown there is a direct
connection between the force of friction and the normal force. That is that
the higher the normal force the higher the force of friction.
4
3.5
3

Frictio
n
Force
(N)

2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
4

10

12

14

16

18

20

Normal Force vs Friction Force graph

Normal Force
(N)

As seen in Step2 the acceleration of the different masses were very

similar to each other. As a result of this similarity and the similarity in
their average times down the plain we can draw to the conclusion that if
you were on a slide in real life it would make a slight but not noticeable
difference if you had a higher mass or a lower mass. And this is reflected
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Lucas Morgan

in the graph below of the bodies, this graph shows there is no connection
between your mass and the acceleration you experience. So if you wanted
to go faster on a slide youre better off trying to find something with less
friction to put between you and slide than to change your mass.
Acceleration vs mass graph
1.8
1.6

Acce
lerat
ion
(ms2
)

1.4
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0.4

0.6

0.8

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2.2

Mass (kg)

Part B: The angle of inclination of the

slide
Method:
1. Place slide onto either table/chair/box.
2. Mark the starting point on the ramp with sticky tape and then stick plum
bob to that starting point as shown on the diagram on page 2.
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3. Measure the Xv and Xh as shown in the diagram on page 2
4. Place the desired set mass into the plastic bag in our case it was 0.775kgs
and then into the plastic container.
5. One person on the stop watch, times how long it takes for the container to
go down the slide. The end point is when the container hits the floor.
6. Record all reading and distances, and repeat steps 1, 3 and 5 using
different tables, boxes or chairs to get the desired angles. You may need to
adjust the string on the plum bob in order to measure Xv and Xh, when
adjusting the steel end of the plum bob should be just sitting above the
ground and stationary.

Results:
Set mass of 0.775kg

T (1)
T (2)
T (3)
T (4)
T (5)
T (6)
T (7)
T (8)
Avg T

Angle Angle
Angle Angle Angle Angle
1
2
Angle 3
4
5
6
7
1.57
2.09
0.9
0.66
0.75
1.53
3.03
1.47
2.75
0.84
0.82
0.72
1.52
1.94
1.5
1.97
1.1
0.62
0.84
1.75
3.75
1.59
2.22
0.9
0.68
0.91
1.84
5.19
1.66
2.8
1
0.87
1.06
1.65
7.22
1.57
2.2
1
0.79
0.75
1.75
3.32
1.57
2.4
1.03
0.87
0.85
1.78
2.56
1.57
2.72
0.94
0.85
0.82
1.84
2.4
1.5
2.4
0.96
0.77
0.83
1.7
3.7

Angle
()
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

30.79
25.61
36.46
43.28
40.67
26.9
23.5

Xv
(m)

Xh (m)

0.82
0.695
0.951
1.1
1.045
0.729
0.645

1.376
1.45
1.287
1.168
1.216
1.436
1.482

Calculations:

Angle using the equation Tan-1(Xv/Xh):

1:

2:
10
1.376m
1.287m

0.951m

0.729m

Lucas Morgan

0.82
m

0.695m

1.45
m

3:

4:

1.1m

1.168 m

5:

6:
1.045m

1.436

1.216
m

7:

0.645m

1.482m

1. Tan-1(0.82/1.376) = 30.79O

4.

2.

6.

3.

-1

5.

Tan (0.695/1.45) = 25.61

Tan-1(0.951/1.287) = 36.46O

7.

11

Tan-1(1.1/1.168) = 43.28O
Tan-1(1.045/1.216) = 40.67O
Tan-1(0.729/1.436) = 26.9O
Tan-1(0.645/1.482) = 23.5O

8.
9.
Acceleration on a friction less slide using a=gsin:
1. 9.8 sin 30.79= 5.0ms-2
2. 9.8 sin 25.61= 4.2ms-2
3. 9.8 sin 36.47= 5.8ms-2
4. 9.8 sin 43.28= 6.7ms-2
5. 9.8 sin 40.67= 6.4ms-2
6. 9.8 sin 26.9= 4.4ms-2
7. 9.8 sin 23.5= 3.9ms-2
Xr, but because it was a set start and end point the Xr will be the
same for all angles:
10.
All angles: eg, 0.822+1.3762=2.56
11.
Square root (2.56) = 1.6m
Acceleration using the method of a=2x/t2, the actual acceleration
down the slide was:
1. (2 x 1.6)/ 1.52= 1.4ms-2
2. (2 x 1.6)/ 2.42= 0.55ms-2
3. (2 x 1.6)/ 0.962= 3.5ms-2
4. (2 x 1.6)/ 0.772= 5.4ms-2
5. (2 x 1.6)/ 0.832= 4.6ms-2
6. (2 x 1.6)/ 1.72= 1.1ms-2
7. (2 x 1.6)/ 3.72= 0.23ms-2
From this we can see that quite a lot of acceleration is lost due to
friction, from the percentage difference equation :
1. [(5.0-1.4)/(5.0+1.4)/2]x100 = 112%
2. [(4.2-0.55)/(4.2+0.55)/2]x100 = 153%
3. [(5.8-3.5)/(5.8+3.5)/2]x100 = 49%
4. [(6.7-5.4)/(6.7+5.4)/2]x100 = 21%
5. [(6.4-4.6)/(6.4+4.6)/2]x100 = 32%
6. [(4.4-1.1)/(4.4+1.1)/2]x100 = 120%
7. [(3.9-0.23)/(3.9+0.23)/2]x100 = 177%
12.
To calculate the final velocity of the body we use the equation
v=u+at, but because all bodies were stationary at the start u=0, so
the equation becomes v=at:
1. 1.4 x 1.5=2.1 ms-1
2. 0.55 x 2.4=1.3 ms-1
3. 3.5 x 0.96=3.3 ms-1
4. 5.4 x 0.77=4.1 ms-1
5. 4.6 x 0.83=3.8 ms-1
6. 1.1 x 1.7=1.8 ms-1
7. 0.23 x 3.7=0.85 ms-1
The normal force by Fn=Fgcos:
1. (0.775x9.8)cos 30.79 =6.5N perpendicular to the plain
2. (0.775x9.8)cos 25.61 =6.8N perpendicular to the plain
3. (0.775x9.8)cos 36.46 =6.1N perpendicular to the plain
4. (0.775x9.8)cos 43.28 =5.5N perpendicular to the plain
5. (0.775x9.8)cos 40.67 =5.7N perpendicular to the plain

6. (0.775x9.8)cos 26.9 =6.7N perpendicular to the plain

7. (0.775x9.8)cos 23.5 =6.9N perpendicular to the plain
13.
Force of friction, given by the equation Ff=k x Fn, where k=0.2
1. 0.2 x 6.5=1.3N up the plain
2. 0.2 x 6.8=1.3N up the plain
3. 0.2 x 6.1=1.2N up the plain
4. 0.2 x 5.5=1.1N up the plain
5. 0.2 x 5.7=1.1N up the plain
6. 0.2 x 6.7=1.3N up the plain
7. 0.2 x 6.9=1.4N up the plain

14.

Discussion:

15.
16.
As expected in the results there are noticeable changes in the
bodys acceleration as the angles changes. This is to be expected
because there was no change in the bodys mass so the friction
force should be relatively constant, which is show in the results. So
with friction being constant the only thing effecting the bodys
acceleration is the angle of the slide. And this is shown in the graph
below. There is a clear connection between the acceleration of a
body and the angle of the slide.

Acceleration (inc friction) vs Angle

6
5
4
3
2
1
0
20

Acc
eler
atio
n
(ms2
)

17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.

25

30

35

40

45

Angle
(o)

30.
31.
32.
33.
If friction was ignored the graph would still have the same
trend.

Acceleration(not incl friction) vs Angle

8
6
4
2
0
20

25

30

35

40

45

34.
35.
36.
Acce
37.
lerat
38.
ion
39.
(ms40.
2
)
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
As mentioned before the force of friction has remained
relatively constant, this is because the mass of the
body
Angle
(o)hasnt
changed.
47.
48.