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Photo Gate Sensor Acceleration Lab

This lab experiment aims to measure the velocity of a moving cart along a track using Vernier Photogates while varying the starting position and mass attached to a pulley. Students will collect velocity data at different positions and ramp heights to analyze the effects on acceleration. The procedure includes setting up the equipment, recording velocities, and plotting data for analysis.

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jlee
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24 views

Photo Gate Sensor Acceleration Lab

This lab experiment aims to measure the velocity of a moving cart along a track using Vernier Photogates while varying the starting position and mass attached to a pulley. Students will collect velocity data at different positions and ramp heights to analyze the effects on acceleration. The procedure includes setting up the equipment, recording velocities, and plotting data for analysis.

Uploaded by

jlee
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Name ___________________________________________________________________ Date ____________

Physical Science

Measuring Velocity and Calculating Acceleration w/ Vernier Photogates


Purpose: In this lab we will observe the velocity of a moving car along a track. The cart will be pulled along the track using a falling
mass connected over a pulley to the car on the track. We will study two different variables. We will first choose a single mass and
vary the starting position of the car. We will also vary the size of the mass attached to the pulley to observe the effect of changing
masses on the car’s velocity and acceleration.

Materials:
Vernier LabQuest 2 Vernier Cart and Track
Vernier Photogate

Procedure:
1. Position the car so the back edge of the car is aligned with the back edge of the ramp.
2. Position photogate sensor at the first position (20 cm).
3. Start data collection using the Vernier LabQuest App
4. Record velocity of car in m/s.
5. Move the photogate to the next position and repeat steps 3 and 4.
6. Once a velocity has been recorded at each position from 20 cm to 120 cm, adjust the height of the ramp and repeat the
experiment.
7. Plot data of Velocity vs. Position on the attached graph (three separate lines.

Table 1 - Velocity data at different points along the ramp. This data will be plotted vs. time to measure the acceleration of the car
moving down a ramp. The ramp will be adjusted to various heights in order to measure the impact of ramp height on acceleration.

Ramp Height = 10 cm

Position (cm) Velocity (m/s)

20

40

60

80

100

120

Ramp Height = 10 cm

Position (cm) Velocity (m/s)

20

40

60

80

100

120
Ramp Height = 10 cm

Position (cm) Velocity (m/s)

20

40

60

80

100

120

Calculations: Calculate the average acceleration of the cart assuming the initial velocity is the velocity of the
cart at the 0 cm mark and the final velocity of the cart is measured at the 120 cm mark. (3 calculations total).

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