Casey Coleman

Jake Hatfield, Keenan Okon

3/4/15
Fast and the Furious
Beginning Question
What is the mathematical and graphical representation among the speed of the car and the
gravitational energy present?
Prediction: I believe that as the speed is increasing, the gravitational energy will be decreasing as
an direct relationship. Meaning that as the car accelerates, the gravitational energy will
decrease in similar increments. This should create a linear relationship that can be seen on our
graphs.
Materials:
Hotwheels racing track (3 parts), a Hot heels car (mustang), a meter stick, several photo gates,
test tube holder/stand and a rag (to stop the car).
Procedure
To begin, make sure you closed toed shoes on, as a falling stand could do some serious damage!
Now lets begin with the procedure: place the test tube holder/stand on a flat table with the the
clamp attached to the three already connected Hotwheels racing track pieces. Now tape the end
of the track to the table, as well as tape the first section of the track to hit the ground to reduce
the bounce in the track. To allow the photogates to work, well need to place magazines around
the side of the tracks (this will hold the photogates above the track so it can register only the car
movements). Now place two photogates, 38.5cm apart with the first one being as soon as the
track becomes level with the table. Now measure 8cm from the beginning photogate (up the

ramp), this will be the cars starting position, mark it with either a piece of tape, pencil, etc. Now
measure an additional 8cm, repeat this step until the total distance is 80cm. Now we can collect
some data; begin by opening up the two-photogate experiment in Lab Pro. Next, place the car at
the 8cm mark and click collect, repeat this 3 times to average the data. Once again, do this step at
all 10 points marked on the track (upto 80cm). Once we have the data in our chart, we can begin
our calculations and graphing.
Data, Observations, Calculations
Data:
Height

Height

Trail 1

Trial 2

Trial 3

Average

Gravitationa

Speed

Speed2

(cm)

(m)

(s)

(s)

(s)

of trials

l Energy (J)

(m/s)

(m2/s2)

.84
.43
.31
.25
.21
.19
.17
.15
.14
.13

(s)
.86
.44
.31
.25
.21
.18
.17
.15
.14
.13

.025
.049
.074
.098
.123
.147
.172
.197
.221
.246

.448
.875
1.242
1.54
1.833
2.139
2.265
2.566
2.75
2.962

.201
.766
1.543
2.372
3.360
4.575
5.130
6.584
7.563
8.773

8
16
24
32
40
48
56
64
72
80

.08
.16
.24
.32
.40
.48
.56
.64
.72
.80

.87
.44
.31
.26
.20
.18
.17
.15
.14
.13

.87
.44
.31
.25
.21
.18
.17
.15
.14
.13

Observations:
As the height of the ramp increased, so did the speed; however, it was not a direct correlation and
the higher the car was raised, the less impact the height made on the speed. Additionally, the
higher the car was raised, the more energy was required to increase the vehicles speed (once the
speed was squared, this would be a direct correlation.
Calculations:

Centimeters to meters (ramp height): 8cm/100=.08m

Average time for trials: (.87s*.87s*.84s)/3=.86s
Grams to kilograms: 30.72g/1000=.03072kg
Centimeters to meters (distance traveled): 38.5cm/100=.385m
Gravitational Energy: .03072kg*10m/s2*.08=.025J
Speed: .385m/.86s=.448m/s
Squaring speed: (.448m/s)2=.201m2/s2
Graphs

LOBF: Gravitational Energy = 0.02522 (J/m2/s2)*Speed2(m2/s2)

Claims and Evidence
Claims: The theory equation is energy = (1/2)m*v2. The variable m represents the mass of the
object, also known as the mass of the car. The variable v represents the velocity of that object.
Evidence: We discovered our theory equation by finding the line of best fit of our linearized
graph which is: Gravitational Energy = 0.02522 (J/m2/s2)*Speed2(m2/s2). The actual meaning of
the slope (0.02522 (J/m2/s2)) is the mass of the object; however, because our slope is 2 times the
mass of the object, our line of best fit is the theory equation (1/2)mv2. Which is multiplied by
(1/2) to compensate for the 2x of our objects mass for our slope.
Errors and Improvements
Errors: The errors for our lab were the bend in the Hot Wheels track as well as the possibility of
the table being at a slope.

Improvements: To improve our data, we should check the slant of the table with a level to make
sure its completely level. To improve the bend in the hot wheels track, we could tighten the track
by taping the end down, we could put something underneath the track (barely touching, careful
to not impede on the tracks normal flow), or we could use a different tack that is less flexible.
Readings and Reflextions
Readings: The source I read: Physics Principles and Problems, stated that KE (kinetic energy)
was equal to (mass)(velocity)2 which is the exact same as our own personal theory equation.
The source, under the section Im quoting, talks about kinetic energy and how it is proportional
to the objects mass as well as kinetic energy being proportional to the square of the objects
velocity. The source goes beyond just basic linear energy, it also shows that Kinect energy can
be rotational as the mass is moving around a central point in a circular motion. This formula is
seen as KE=1/2Iw2 where I is the objects moment of inertia and w is the objects angular
velocity. This formula is also very similar as it has the same proportions as well as the only real
difference being that the mass is calculated differently.
Zitzewitz, P., Elliott, T., Haase, D., Harper, K., Herzog, M., Nelson, J., ... Zorn, M. (2009). Energy
and Its Conservation. In Physics Principles and Problems (p. 944). Columbus, Ohio: Glencoe.

Reflections: This experiment exerted data that was quite different from what I would have
believed originally. Going into the experiment I felt the data would be in direct correlation
between the axiss; however after looking at the data, I can see this is not true. I learned that the
slope of our line of best fit is based on the mass (or half the mass in our case do to friction)
which caused the x-axis to have to be squared to create the linear line needed in lab graphs.