Hands-On-Physics
Introductory Mechanics
Core Project:
ANALYSIS
Speed
Testing the Aircart's speed
involves two variables, the distance traveled and the time required to travel
that distance. If you set the distance (say, to one meter), then distance
(d) is the independent
variable, and you must measure time (t) which would be the dependent
variable in this case. If, on the other hand, you choose the pick a time
(say, three seconds) then time is the independent variable and you must
measure distance, the dependent variable. In this case distance depends
on the time you choose.
After making several "runs" to get a few measurements, calculate
the average time or distance.
( Average Measurement = sum of measurements / number of measurements).
Calculating the average
speed is easy, it's just the ratio of distance to time, d / t. However,
the final speed, that is, the speed at the end of the interval, is bigger
than the average speed because the Aircart is speeding up. If the Aircart
starts it's run from rest (zero speed), then the final speed is twice the
average.
Double the time or distance and measure you aircart's average speed again.
How "fast" is your aircart?
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