PHY 202/PHY 241
One-Dimensional Kinematics
Name: ________________________________
Purpose: Familiarize the student with the different aspects of one-dimensional kinematic motion.
Procedure
Part 1 – Constant velocity
1. Go to PHET Moving Man simulation (https:
phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/legacy/moving-man). You should be able to click on the a
ow in the middle of the display to run it, or, if you want, you can download it onto your computer. These simulations require Java to be installed on your computer.
2. Click on “Introduction” tab.
3. Click on the “Reset All” button. This should set the Position, Velocity, and Acceleration indicators to zero.
4. Pick a small velocity value (something less than 2 m/s, say). Leave the Position and Acceleration values at zero.
5. Make sure the “Record” button is chosen and press the play button to run the simulation. Record until figure reaches
ick wall.
6. To gather data, click on the “Playback” button and push the play button again.
7. As the playback continues, stop it and record the time and position at that point in Table A. You will want to do this 10 times throughout the playback. It is not necessary to get integer times or positions.
Part 2 – Constant acceleration
1. Reset the simulation.
2. Keeping your velocity value as it was in Part 1, set the acceleration at some small value (say something less than 2 m/s2).
3. Repeat steps 5 through 7 in part one to run simulation and gather data to fill out Table B.
Table A
Time (s)
Position (m)
Table B
Time (s)
Position (m)
Velocity (m/s)
Analysis
1. Plot a graph of position (y-axis) vs. time (x-axis) for Table A. If linear, calculate the slope of your graph. Make sure to include this calculation on your attached calculations page.
2. Plot a graph of position (y-axis) vs. time (x-axis) for from Table B.
3. If the initial plot is not linear (that would be truly linear and not what you try to impose on it), replot this data by making a change to one or both data sets (square, reciprocal, cube, square-root) in order to get a linear graph. Find the slope of this graph and include this calculation on your attached calculations page.
4. Plot a graph of velocity (y-axis) vs. time (x-axis) for Table B. Describe the graph, including shape and any intercept values. If linear, find its slope. Make sure to show all calculations.
5. The following video discusses why and how one linearizes a graph. You might find it useful for the above analysis: Linearizing Graphs in Physics
Questions
1. Describe the graph of Table A data (linear, exponential, parabolic, logarithmic…). If linear, what is the significance of the slope of the graph of Table A (what variable, if any, does it represent based on the simulation you ran based on units in your slope calculation)? What is the significance of any intercept values in relation to the simulation you ran? Using appropriate variables, what would the equation look like describing your graph from Table A? How does this equation compare with kinematic equations discussed in the text?
2. Describe the initial graph of position vs. time from Table B data (linear, exponential, parabolic, logarithmic…).
3. Describe the modified graph of Table B data (linear, exponential, parabolic, logarithmic…). If linear, what is the significance of the slope of the graph of Table B (what variable, if any, does it represent based on the simulation you ran)? What is the significance of any intercept values in relation to the simulation you ran? Using appropriate variables, what would the equation look like describing your graph from Table B? How does this equation compare with kinematic equations discussed in the text?
4. Describe the graph of velocity versus time of Table B data (linear, exponential, parabolic, logarithmic…). If linear, what is the significance of the slope of the graph of Table B (what variable, if any, does it represent based on the simulation you ran)? What is the significance of any intercept values in relation to the simulation you ran? Using appropriate variables, what would the equation look like describing your graph from Table B? How does this equation compare with kinematic equations discussed in the text?