Why Does Acceleration Vary in a Ramp Experiment?

In summary, the conversation discusses an experiment involving a cart with tickertape attached to it being rolled down an inclined ramp. The acceleration of the cart is calculated using the average velocity, but it appears to be fluctuating instead of remaining constant. The participants question whether the acceleration should be constant and discuss potential experimental errors that could have caused the variation. They also mention considering the forces acting on the cart and analyzing the diagram of the experiment.
  • #1
jnimagine
178
0
When the cart was rolled down a ramp with tickertape attached to it and the acceleration was calculated using the average velocity, the acceleration seem to be going up and down instead of staying the same... for example, ot goes from 0.5 to 0.2 then to 0.9 and so on...shouldn't they be constant? if they should be what are some experimental errors that could have caused this?
 
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  • #2
you are talking about the a car with a roll of paper atached to a machine that make dots in a roll of paper??
is the ramp inclined?? Is the paper making an opposite force?

Explain the Experiment first...
 
  • #3
Littlepig said:
you are talking about the a car with a roll of paper atached to a machine that make dots in a roll of paper??
is the ramp inclined?? Is the paper making an opposite force?

Explain the Experiment first...

yes the ramp is inclined and the tickertape is attached to the back of the cart as it rolls down.
 
  • #4
surely friction is not constant all over the ramp
 
  • #5
well, than you know what forces are acting on the car... First make the diagram of the problem, considering the ideal experience...than, you will analyze what can problaby make a variation of aceleration..
 

Related to Why Does Acceleration Vary in a Ramp Experiment?

1. What is constant acceleration?

Constant acceleration is a type of motion in which the velocity of an object changes at a constant rate. This means that the object's speed increases or decreases by the same amount every second.

2. How is constant acceleration calculated?

Constant acceleration can be calculated using the formula a = (vf - vi) / t, where a is the acceleration, vf is the final velocity, vi is the initial velocity, and t is the time. This formula can also be written as a = Δv / t, where Δv is the change in velocity.

3. What is the difference between constant acceleration and uniform motion?

Constant acceleration is a type of motion in which the velocity changes at a constant rate, while uniform motion is when the velocity remains constant (does not change). In other words, constant acceleration involves a change in velocity, while uniform motion does not.

4. What are some examples of constant acceleration?

Some examples of constant acceleration include a ball rolling down a ramp, a car accelerating from a stop sign, and a rocket launching into space. In all of these cases, the velocity of the object changes at a constant rate.

5. How does constant acceleration relate to Newton's laws of motion?

Constant acceleration is related to Newton's Second Law of Motion, which states that the force applied to an object is equal to its mass times its acceleration (F = ma). This means that if a constant force is applied to an object, it will experience constant acceleration.

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