6

PRACTICAS DE FÍSICA I
BIOQUÍMICA Y FARMACIA
PRIMER NIVEL
NOMBRE:_________________________________________________
FECHA: 3 -10- 2016

Velocity of a Motorized Cart

(Motion Sensor)

Mechanics: Linear motion; constant velocity DataStudio file: Constant Velocity.ds

Equipment List

Qty Items Part Numbers

1 PASCO Interface (for one sensor)
1 Motion Sensor CI-6742
1 1.2 m Dynamics Track ME-9435A
1 Motorized Cart ME-9781
Introduction
The purpose of this activity is to investigate constant velocity. Use a Motion Sensor to measure
the motion of a motorized cart. Use DataStudio to record and display the motion.
Background
Constant velocity means constant speed along a straight line. Although constant velocity is
straightforward, the graphical representation of constant velocity involves many fundamental
concepts of kinematics. The slope of a plot of position versus time is the speed of the object. The
y-intercept of a plot of position and time gives the initial position of the object when
measurement begins. The units along the vertical and horizontal axes of a graph of position and
time give the units for the object’s speed. Whether the slope of position and time is positive or
negative reveals the direction of the object relative to the sensor.

SAFETY REMINDER
 Follow directions for using the equipment.

Setup
1. Set up the PASCO Interface and computer and start DataStudio.
2. Connect the Motion Sensor to the interface.
3. Open the DataStudio file: 06 Constant Velocity.ds

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 The DataStudio file has a Graph display of Position vs. Time. Data recording is
set to begin when the object is 25 cm away from the sensor and recording stops
automatically when the object is 100 cm from the sensor. Sampling is set at 20 Hz (20
measurements per second.)
4. Place the PASCO track on a table and attach the Motion Sensor to one end of the track.
5. Set the range switch on the top of the Motion Sensor to the ‘near’ (CART) setting. Place
the Motorized Cart about 15 cm from the Motion Sensor so that the back of the cart is

facing the sensor.

Procedure
1. Click ‘Start’ in DataStudio.
2. Turn on the switch on the top of the cart.
 Data recording begins automatically when the cart is 25 cm away from the sensor, and
stops automatically when the cart is 100 cm away.
3. Turn the cart off and replace the cart at its starting point on the track.
4. Adjust the speed of the cart and repeat the data recording process two more times (for a
total of three trials).
Analysis
1. Rescale the Graph display so the data fills the display.
2. Click “Position Run #1” in the Graph’s
legend box to select the first run of data.
Examine the units and variables on the two
graph axes.
3. Click the ‘Fit’ button () in the Graph
display toolbar.
Select ‘Linear Fit’
4. Examine the ‘Linear Fit’ box to find the
value of ‘m (Slope)’ and ‘b (Y
Intercept)’ of the best-fit line
through your data for Run #1.
5. Record the slope and Y-intercept for
Run #1 in the Lab Report.
6. Repeat the analysis process for the
other runs of data.

Answer the questions in the Lab Report section.

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Reporte de Laboratorio: Velocidad Constante

Datos
Corrida Pendiente Intersección
con el eje Y
1
2
3
Gráfico de posición vs tiempo

Preguntas
1. Qué magnitud se representa en el eje vertical de su gráfico y en qué unidad?

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2. Qué magnitud se representa en el eje horizontal de su gráfico y en qué unidad?

3. Por cuánto tiempo se movió el carro en cada corrida?

Corrida Tiempo de
movimiento (s)
1
2
3

4. Las condiciones de arranque y parade fueron las mismas para cada corrida. Por qué el
tiempo del movimiento es diferente para cada corrida?

5. Qué magnitude física representa la pendiente de la recta correspondiente a cada corrida?

6. Cuáles son las unidades de la pendiente de cada gráfico?

7. Que representa el valor de la intersección del eje Y?

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8. Escriba una ecuación para cada conjunto de datos, usando la forma y=mx + b. Incluya las
unidades de la pendiente y la intersección.
Run Equation (y = mx + b)

9. Conociendo los valores físicos que representa la pendiente y la intersección con el eje Y,
que variables puede poner en la ecuación, en lugar de ‘y’, ‘m’, ‘x’ y ‘b’ para hacer más
específica la ecuación para el movimiento del carro.

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