Lab 2: Motion in One Dimension

Pre-lab Questions:
1. Figure 1(a) shows the position vs. time graph for a cart moving on a straight track. Is the cart
traveling at a constant speed, or is the cart gaining speed over time? How can you tell?

2. Figure 1(b) shows the position vs. time graph for a cart moving on a straight track. Is the cart
always moving forward, or does it spend some time moving backward? How can you tell?

3. What is the difference between speed and velocity?

4. Figure 1(c) shows the velocity vs. time graph for a cart moving on a straight track. Is the cart
traveling at a constant speed, or is the cart gaining speed over time? How can you tell?

5. Figure 1(d) shows the velocity vs. time graph for a cart moving on a straight track. Is the cart
always moving forward, or does it spend some time moving backward? How can you tell?

Figure 1: Graphs for a cart moving along a straight track

Objective
• Understand position, velocity, and the relationship between them.
• Relate the physical motion of an object to a graphical representation of the motion

Apparatus
PASCO wireless smart car (PAScar), 1.2 m Dynamics Track with stops on both ends, two graph papers,
ruler

Introduction
Motion is an inseparable phenomenon happening everywhere, and all objects surrounding us,
from the smallest particles in our bodies to the largest galaxies in the universe, are moving at different
rates in different directions. The simplest form of motion is when an object moves along a straight line.
This is referred to as translational motion. Other forms of motion include rotational and vibrational.
Motion in one dimension can occur in nature, and an example would be when we drop something and it
falls straight downward.

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 The motion of an object can be described by discussing both the displacement and velocity of the
object. In one dimension, the displacement of an object can be found by determining the difference
between the object’s final and original positions,

∆𝑥⃗ = 𝑥
%%%%⃗! − %%%⃗
𝑥"
(Equation 1)

The object’s velocity describes both its speed

(shown as a number plus units) and direction of motion
(often shown with a + or –). In one dimension, the
average velocity of the object can be found using the
displacement and the time during which the motion
occurred,

∆$⃗
𝑣⃗ = ∆&
(Equation 2)
Figure 2: Graph of position vs. time for an
Another method for determining the velocity of object traveling forward at a constant speed.
an object is to make a plot of the position the object as a The velocity of the object can be found from
function of time (Fig. 2). Since slope = rise / run, this graph by calculating the slope of the
best-fit line.
∆$
𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 = ∆&
=𝑣

Thus the slope of the best-fit line or curve will be equal to

the velocity. A positive slope represents a forward
velocity, and a negative slope represents a backward
velocity.
There are many scenarios in which the velocity of
an object remains constant throughout its motion.
However, there are also numerous instances where the
velocity of an object changes as the object moves. The
constant or changing nature of an object’s velocity can be
observed by making a plot of the object’s velocity as a
function of time (Fig. 3). In this type of graph, a velocity
line above the x-axis (positive values) represents forward
motion, and a velocity line below the x-axis (negative
values) values backward motion. Figure 3: Graph of velocity vs. time for an
object steadily gaining speed in the forward
Because all motion is interrelated, a velocity vs. direction. The displacement of an object can
time graph can also be used to determine the displacement be found by calculating the area under the
of an object. This is done by calculating the area under the curve for an object’s velocity vs. time graph.
curve for any given time interval.

Procedure
1. Mount the cart on a leveled track. The cart should not move. If so, level the track again.

2. Connect the cart to the computer and verify that data is being recorded correctly (see Appendix 1
pdf on Photon Drive for instructions).

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 3. Move the cart to roughly the 10 cm mark with the +x arrow facing to the right.

4. Click the record button on the computer to reset the experiment and collect new data.

5. Move the cart forward at a CONSTANT but slow speed for about 5 seconds. Aim for 20-30 cm
travel during this time. Data will be collected every 0.1 seconds (about 50 data points). Check
that the velocity data looks constant and repeat if necessary.

Have your instructor check your velocity data before you continue. _________(initials)

6. Once your TA has verified your data, manually record the position and velocity data in column 2
of Tables 1 and 2, respectively, at the end of the lab manual for the times listed on the table (0.5-5
secs every 0.5 secs). Record up to the first decimal place.

7. Move the cart back to the 10 cm mark, but this time move it forward at a CONSTANT but faster
speed (aim for about 70-80 cm travel in 5 seconds). Do not reach the end of the track before the
recording time is over. Again, check the velocity data is reasonably constant, and repeat the trial
if necessary. Record the data in Tables 1 and 2 in the appropriate sections.

8. Perform the trial again with a CHANGING speed. Start slowly and gradually speed up the cart in
the last three or four seconds.

Have your instructor check your variable velocity data before you continue. _________(initials)
9. Record the data points in Tables 1 and 2.

Part I: Understanding position

For this part, you will see the characteristics of position-time graphs.

10. On a piece of graph paper, make a single graph of position vs. time for the motions of the cart.
Place time on the horizontal axis and position on the vertical axis. Your graph should cover
almost the entire page. Be sure to label the axes with proper units and give the graph a descriptive
title.

11. On the graph, plot the position of the cart when it was moving slowly. (Column 2 of Data Table
1). Draw a best-fit line through the data.

12. On the SAME GRAPH, plot the position of the cart when it was moving quickly. Draw a best-fit
line through the data.

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 13. On the SAME GRAPH, plot the position of the cart when it was changing speed. Draw a best-fit
CURVE through the data.

14. Label each line so that the reader knows which line belongs to which set of data.

In-class questions:
1. Based only on the graph, how can you tell if the cart in trial 1 or trial 2 was moving faster?

2. Based only on the graph, how can you tell that the cart in trial 3 was changing speed?

3. Calculate the slope of each straight line. (You do not need to find the slope of the curved line, the
third trial.) These slopes represent the average velocity of the cart in each trial. Show your work
in the space below.

Part II: Understanding velocity

For this part, you will see the characteristics of velocity-time graphs.

Procedure
1. On a new piece of graph paper, make a single graph of velocity vs. time for the motions of the
cart. Place time on the horizontal axis and velocity on the vertical axis. Your graph should cover
almost the entire page. Be sure to label the axes and give the graph a descriptive title.

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 2. On the graph, plot the velocity of the cart when it was moving slowly (Column 2 of Data Table
2). Draw a best fit line through the data.

3. On the SAME GRAPH, plot the velocity of the cart when it was moving quickly. Draw a best fit
line through the data.

4. On the SAME GRAPH, plot the velocity of the cart when it was changing speed. Draw a best fit
line through the data.

5. Label each line so that the reader knows which line belongs to which set of data.

In-class questions:
1. Based only on this new graph, how can you tell if the cart in trial 1 or trial 2 was moving faster?

2. Based only on this new graph, how can you tell that the cart in trial 3 was changing speed?

3. For trial 1, compare the average velocity observed in the velocity vs. time graph with the velocity
you calculated based on the slope of the position vs. time graph. Should these values be similar
or different? Do your numbers agree with this expectation? Explain any discrepancies.

4. For trial 2, compare the average velocity observed in the velocity vs. time graph with the velocity
you calculated based on the slope of the position vs. time graph. Should these values be similar
or different? Do your numbers agree with this expectation? Explain any discrepancies.

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Part III: Challenge
Now that you know the characteristics of position and velocity graphs, you will be challenged to match an
existing graph.

Procedure

1. Look at the graph shown in Figure 4. Talk with your lab partner(s) about what motions are shown
in the graph. Come up with a plan to replicate those motions using the cart on the track.

2. Move to Page 2 of the lab on the computer. In this part, only position data will be taken at 2 Hz
for 10 secs (20 points total). You can end your trial before the 10 seconds are up.

3. Move your cart to replicate the behavior illustrated in Figure 4. Check your data with the TA

Have your instructor check your challenge data before you continue_________(initials)
4. Record the position data in Table 3 for the listed times.
5. Create a position vs. time graph for the data you collected on your moving cart. Draw a best fit
line through the data. The students need to draw best fit lines through each segment of the graph
but not a single line for the whole graph.

Figure 4: Graph of position vs. time for the challenge problem.

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Homework questions:
1. Does your graph for the Part 3 Challenge have the same basic features as the graph in Figure 4?
For each discrepancy, explain how you would change the motions of your cart to better match the
graph if you were to repeat the experiment.

2. In words, describe the motion of the cart shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5: Graph of velocity vs. time for a cart moving on a straight track.

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 DATA TABLES

Table 1: Position data for the cart moving in a straight line

POSITION FOR POSITION FOR POSITION FOR
TRIAL 1 TRIAL 2 TRIAL 3
TIME
(CONSTANT AND (CONSTANT AND (CHANGING
(sec)
SLOW) FAST) VELOCITY)
( ) ( ) ( )
0.5
1.0

1.5
2.0
2.5

3.0
3.5

4.0

4.5
5.0

Table 2: Velocity data for the cart moving in a straight line

VELOCITY FOR VELOCITY FOR VELOCITY FOR
TRIAL 1 TRIAL 2 TRIAL 3
TIME
(CONSTANT AND (CONSTANT AND (CHANGING
(sec)
SLOW) FAST) VELOCITY)
( ) ( ) ( )
0.5
1.0
1.5

2.0
2.5

3.0

3.5
4.0

4.5

5.0

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 Table 3: Challenge Problem

TIME POSITION
(sec) ( )

0.5
1.0

1.5
2.0

2.5
3.0
3.5

4.0
4.5
5.0

5.5

6.0
6.5

7.0
7.5
8.0

8.5
9.0

9.5

10.0

Please have the instructor sign here before you leave the lab. This confirms that you have completed the
in-lab portion of the lab report.
_________________________________
Instructor’s Final approval / Date