l a b3 uniformly accelerated motion（l b3匀加速运动）.docVIP

Purpose This laboratory is a set of experiments involving constant accelerations. In Experiment 1 we will measure the acceleration of free-fall using a “Picket Fence”, a photogate, and the DataStudio system. In Experiment 2 we will time the motion of a cart on an inclined plane. In Experiment 3, we will test the mass-independence of gravitational acceleration. Principles Acceleration is defined as the rate of change of velocity: . If the acceleration is constant, then so is the change in velocity over equal time intervals and the velocity will increase at a constant rate. The graph of velocity over time will be a straight line, with the acceleration as the slope. This allows us to find the equations of motion of an object (velocity as a function of time, position as a function of time) algebraically instead of by integration, as is usually the case. Such equations are called kinematic equations since they show the relationship between position, velocity and acceleration. Whether the acceleration is constant is determined by the forces on the object. Near the surface of the Earth, the force of gravity is fairly constant, leading to constant accelerations in many commonly encountered situations. For instance, an object in free-fall will experience constant acceleration (if we ignore air resistance), as was first demonstrated by Galileo in the 17th century. Objects sliding or rolling over a surface, whether flat or inclined, will also experience nearly constant accelerations, even if there is friction involved. Galileo also first demonstrated that all objects in free-fall experience the same acceleration, regardless of their mass (to the extent that air resistance can be neglected). The acceleration of free-fall is given the symbol g and has the value of 9.80 m/s2 at the latitude of Atlanta (g does vary with slightly with latitude and with altitude). The mass-independence of gravitational acceleration extends to any situation where gravi