PHY101

Student Name __________________Date ___________

INVESTIGATION OF DISTANCE AND SPEED USING PHOTO-GATE SENSOR In physics, the concepts of distance, speed, and acceleration are important and closely related. Speed (average speed) is defined as the total distance traveled by an object divided by the time of travel. Photo-gate sensor (motion sensor) measures the distance from it to any large object in front of it at equal time intervals. Photo-gate sends out signals, which are reflected from the large object in front of it. The computer to which a photo-gate is connected, measures the time needed for signal to return. To get reliable data over a long period of time, the signal must be reflected from something reasonably large and smooth. Rather than relaying on your body to reflect the signal, you may carry a board in front of you when doing this lab. HARDWARE CONNECTIONS 1. 2. Connect the Science Workshop interface to the computer, turn on the interface, and turn on the computer. Connect the Photo-gates stereo phone plug to Digital Channel 1 on the interface. Open the Science Workshop software. Select the proper probe - sensor on the software. Open a graph distance as a function of time.

3. 4. 5.

PROCEDURE

1.

Start about m away from the photo-gate. Change the scale on the y-axis of the graph to 0 m (min) to 3 m (max). Click on the start bottom on the computer screen and walk slowly and steadily away from it for about 2m, and then go back to about m away from the photo-gate. On your note sketch the graph made by the computer on Figure 1. Be sure to put scale units on the axis of your graph. Use this as an exercise to became familiar with motion sensor photo-gate and the graph on computer screen.

distance (m)

time (s)

Figure 1

2.

Start from the m line and walk steadily, but more quickly than in Step 1. Stop at about 2 m away from the photo-gate and then go back quickly. Sketch the graph from the computer on Figure 1. Now you will have two graphs in Figure 1. Q1 - What is the difference between two graphs in Figure 1. - Answer this question on your report for this lab.

3. 4.

Now predict the graph of your starting 2 m in front of the photo-gate and walking slowly toward the photo-gate on Figure 2. Now predict the graph of your starting m in front of the photo-gate and walking slowly away from the photo-gate on Figure 2. Figure 2 will have two graphs with different slopes. Now try scenarios from step 3 and 4. Make sketches of the computers graphs, on Figure 3. Q2 What is the disagreement between the predictions and actual graphs? Explain any disagreements. - Answer this question on your report for this lab.

5.

distance (m)

time (s)

Figure 2

distance (m)

time (s)

Figure 3

9.

Using the slope formula m =

y2 y1 to calculate the slope of each line. Use the cursor x2 x1

tool and read coordinates of any two points on each of the graphs. Q3 How does the slope of the line relate to your speed? - Answer this question on your report for this lab. Q4 - What does the sign (+ or -) of slope indicate? - Answer this question on your report for this lab. Q5 - What does the value of zero for slope indicate? - Answer this question on your report for this lab.

Now predict the following motion: 12. Start at the m mark and stands there for 2 s, then slowly walk away from the photo-gate to the 2 m mark, stay there for 2 s, then rapidly walks towards the photo-gate back to m mark. Graph your prediction on Figure 4. This graph should be similar to one on Figure 5.

distance (m)

time (s)

Figure 4 13. Simulate the graph shown in Figure 4. Calculate the slope for each of three sections of the graph. Q6 - What is the physical meaning of the slope in this graph? Q7 - Which direction is student moving when the slope is positive Q8 - Which direction is student moving when the slope is negative Q9 - Which direction is student moving when the slope equal zero ( Answer all these questions on your report for this lab.)

distance (m)

time (m)

Figure 5 14. Use the photo-gate to measure the height of each student and include that in your report student name and height in meters and centimeters. 15. Use the photo-gate to measure arm span for each student and include that in your report student name and arm span in meters and centimeters.