Table A: Measurements of the Racetrack
Units
Length of
Racetrack
(D)
Length of Quarters
for Checkpoints
(D/4)
Height of Lower Racetrack
(10% of D)
Height of Higher Racetrack
(15% of D)
cm
609.6
61
91.5
m
6.096
0.61
0.915
Table B: Time Recorded at Checkpoints for Lower Racetrack
Height at Start _61___ m
Time of
Trial #1
(s)
Time of
Trial #2
(s)
Time of
Trial #3
(s)
Average
Time
(s)
¼ Checkpoint
____ m
02.15
02.05
02.02
2.07
½ Checkpoint
____ m
03.25
03.07
03.17
3.16
¾ Checkpoint
____ m
04.23
03.98
04.12
4.11
Finish Line
____ m
05.01
04.81
04.93
4.92
Student Guide (continued)
Lab: Motion
Student Guide
Table C: Average Speeds for Lower Racetrack
Time (Initial)
(s)
Time (Final)
(s)
Elapsed Time
(s)
Average Speed (m/s)
1st ¼ of the Track
2.07
8.22
0.74
2nd ¼ of the Track
1.09
7.84
1.40
3rd ¼ of the Track
0.95
8.03
1.60
Final ¼ of the Track
0.81
8.03
1.88
Table D: Time Recorded at Checkpoints for Higher Racetrack
Height at Start ___91.5_ m
Time of
Trial #1
(s)
Time of
Trial #2
(s)
Time of
Trial #3
(s)
Average
Time
(s)
¼ Checkpoint
____ m
01.38
01.39
01.41
1.39
½ Checkpoint
____ m
02.19
02.14
02.20
2.18
¾ Checkpoint
____ m
02.80
02.81
02.85
2.82
Finish Line
____ m
03.31
03.40
03.38
3.36
Student Guide (continued)
Lab: Motion
Student Guide
Table E: Average Speeds for Higher Racetrack
Time (Initial)
(s)
Time (Final)
(s)
Elapsed Time
(s)
Average Speed
(m/s)
1st ¼ of the Track
1.39
5.04
1.10
2nd ¼ of the Track
0.79
5.51
1.93
3rd ¼ of the Track
0.64
5.53
2.38
Final ¼ of the Track
0.54
9.75
2.82
Table A: Measurements of the Racetrack
Units
Length of
Racetrack
(D)
Length of Quarters
for Checkpoints
(D/4)
Height of Lower Racetrack
(10% of D)
Height of Higher Racetrack
(15% of D)
cm
609.6
61
91.5
m
6.096
0.61
0.915
Table B: Time Recorded at Checkpoints for Lower Racetrack
Height at Start _61___ m
Time of
Trial #1
(s)
Time of
Trial #2
(s)
Time of
Trial #3
(s)
Average
Time
(s)
¼ Checkpoint
____ m
02.15
02.05
02.02
2.07
½ Checkpoint
____ m
03.25
03.07
03.17
3.16
¾ Checkpoint
____ m
04.23
03.98
04.12
4.11
Finish Line
____ m
05.01
04.81
04.93
4.92
Student Guide (continued)
Lab: Motion
Student Guide
Table C: Average Speeds for Lower Racetrack
Time (Initial)
(s)
Time (Final)
(s)
Elapsed Time
(s)
Average Speed (m/s)
1st ¼ of the Track
2.07
8.22
0.74
2nd ¼ of the Track
1.09
7.84
1.40
3rd ¼ of the Track
0.95
8.03
1.60
Final ¼ of the Track
0.81
8.03
1.88
Table D: Time Recorded at Checkpoints for Higher Racetrack
Height at Start ___91.5_ m
Time of
Trial #1
(s)
Time of
Trial #2
(s)
Time of
Trial #3
(s)
Average
Time
(s)
¼ Checkpoint
____ m
01.38
01.39
01.41
1.39
½ Checkpoint
____ m
02.19
02.14
02.20
2.18
¾ Checkpoint
____ m
02.80
02.81
02.85
2.82
Finish Line
____ m
03.31
03.40
03.38
3.36
Student Guide (continued)
Lab: Motion
Student Guide
Table E: Average Speeds for Higher Racetrack
Time (Initial)
(s)
Time (Final)
(s)
Elapsed Time
(s)
Average Speed
(m/s)
1st ¼ of the Track
1.39
5.04
1.10
2nd ¼ of the Track
0.79
5.51
1.93
3rd ¼ of the Track
0.64
5.53
2.38
Final ¼ of the Track
0.54
9.75
2.82
Directions
Now that the lab is complete, it is time to write your lab report. The purpose of this guide is to help you write a clear and concise report that summarizes the lab you have just completed.
The lab report is composed of four sections:
Section I: Experimental Overview
Provide background information.
Include the hypothesis(es).
Summarize the procedures.
Section II: Data and Observations
Summarize the data you collected in the lab guide.
Include information from data tables.
Include any written observations that are relevant.
Section III: Analysis and Discussion
Discuss any important calculations or formulas used.
Identify key results, what the results indicate, and any trends in the data.
Include graphs (if constructed) that display trends in the data.
Provide possible reasons for any problems with the experiment, or unexpected data.
Section IV: Conclusions
Identify if the hypothesis(es) was (were) supported or refuted.
Provide logical reasoning based on data.
Explain how the experiment could be improved.
To help you write your lab report, you will first answer the questions listed below by reflecting on the experiment you have just completed. Then you will use the answers to these questions to write the lab report that you will turn into your teacher.
You can upload your completed report with the upload tool in formats such as OpenOffice.org, Microsoft Word, or PDF. Alternatively, your teacher may ask you to turn in a paper copy of your report or use a web-based writing tool.
Section I: Experimental Overview
1. What was the purpose of this experiment?
- The purpose of this experiment was to measure the average speeds of a toy car on a lower racetrack and a higher racetrack and compare the results.
2. What were the hypotheses for this experiment?
- The hypothesis for the experiment could be that the average speed of the car on the higher racetrack would be greater than on the lower racetrack due to the increased height of the higher racetrack.
3. What were the procedures used in this experiment?
- The procedures involved measuring the length of the racetrack, the quarters for checkpoints, and the heights of the lower and higher racetrack. Then, the time was recorded at checkpoints for both racetracks. The average speeds for each racetrack were calculated by dividing the elapsed time by the length of the corresponding quarter of the track.
Section II: Data and Observations
1. What data was collected in this experiment?
- The data collected includes the measurements of the racetrack and checkpoints, as well as the recorded times at checkpoints for both the lower and higher racetracks.
2. Were there any relevant observations made during the experiment?
- There may be some relevant observations made during the experiment, such as the smoothness of the racetrack surface or any noticeable differences in the car's performance on the different tracks.
Section III: Analysis and Discussion
1. What calculations or formulas were used in this experiment?
- The average speeds were calculated by dividing the elapsed time at each checkpoint by the length of the corresponding quarter of the track.
2. What are the key results and trends in the data?
- The key results include the average speeds for each quarter of the track on both the lower and higher racetracks. The trends in the data may indicate if the car's speed increased on the higher racetrack compared to the lower racetrack.
3. Were there any problems or unexpected data in the experiment?
- It is possible that there may be problems or unexpected data in the experiment, such as inconsistencies in the recorded times at checkpoints or variations in the car's performance.
Section IV: Conclusions
1. Were the hypotheses supported or refuted by the data?
- The hypothesis that the average speed of the car on the higher racetrack would be greater than on the lower racetrack may be supported if the average speeds on the higher racetrack are indeed higher.
2. What is the logical reasoning based on the data?
- The logical reasoning based on the data would involve analyzing the average speeds and comparing them between the lower and higher racetracks. If the average speeds on the higher racetrack are consistently higher, it suggests that the increased height of the track has an impact on the car's speed.
3. How could the experiment be improved?
- The experiment could be improved by ensuring accurate and consistent measurements, recording multiple trials for each checkpoint, and using more precise timing devices to reduce errors in the recorded times. Additionally, conducting the experiment multiple times with different cars or on different days could help validate the results.