Relations between Position, Time, Velocity, and Acceleration

Name: Benda, Michael P.

Title: Relations between position, time, velocity, and acceleration
Hypothesis: By running a simulated car at a given start point and constant velocity, the
car’s future position or time from start can always be determined by knowing one of
those two variables. At a constant acceleration and time in motion, position or velocity of
the car can be determined.
Overview: I. A simulated car was placed on a 50.000-meter track at 0.000 meters. Two
markers were placed at 20.000 and 40.000 meters to measure the time in seconds that
the car reached that point. The first test used a constant velocity of 5.000 m/s. Using
d=vt, position and time was calculated at 20.000 meters and 4 seconds, and 40.000
meters and 8.000 seconds with no error. Experiment was repeated at a velocity of
10.000 m/s with no error.
II. The same conditions exist as above except with an initial velocity of 0.000
and acceleration of 1.000 m/s^2. At the 20.000 meter mark, time was recorded as 6.325
seconds. When that time was used to calculate position, it resulted in 20.002 meters.
See Data Table and Uncertainty & Error for further details.
III. Car was set to decelerate at 2.000 m/s^2. At 25.000 meters the time and
velocity was taken.
Procedure:
https://www.webassign.net/userimages/Module%201%20%96%20Motion%20%96
%20Instructions.pdf?db=v4net&id=476480
Data Table:
Uncertainty & Error: Calculating position from time intervals taken from a car with an
acceleration value typically resulted in a .001 to .004 difference between the actual and
calculated values. Possibilities for this error may have resulted from time measuring
equipment not calibrated for high enough tolerances. Time in seconds was only noted to
10x10^-3.
Conclusion/Summary: This experiment tested via simulation the formulas that
determine position through relations between time, velocity, and acceleration. The
hypothesis that an object with a known velocity can have its future position and time at
that position calculated with no error is correct according to the data in table 1. When an
object starts moving and acceleration and the time interval is known, velocity can be
solved, and position solved with small amounts of error. Since this error is a result of
imprecise measurement, the second part of the hypothesis is considered correct.
Application: Take-off and landing distance is an important part of operating airplanes.
While there are a lot of other factors that contribute to the acceleration, velocity, and
position of an aircraft, these properties are the bottom line on if that aircraft has enough
distance to safely operate.