Name ______Date: ______Period: _____
Skateboard Lab
Diagram to Label:
Introduction: You will investigate the relationship between force, acceleration and mass. You
will apply a constant force to a person on a skateboard and calculate their
acceleration.
Materials: skateboard meter stick
stop watch 50N spring scale
Pre-lab: Answer these questions FIRST!!
1. Label the diagram with an arrow shoeing the direction of the applied force acting on the
person on the skate board.
2. Label the diagram with an arrow showing the direction of the frictional force between the skateboard and the floor.
3. Net Force = ______+ ______
4. If the person on the skateboard moves at constant velocity and the scale reads 30N, what is
the frictional force? Hint: acceleration is zero
5. If the scale reads 40N and the friction is 30N, what is the net force?
6. If the mass of the person and the skateboard in question 5 is 50kg, what is the acceleration?
7. If a person on a skateboard accelerates for 2 seconds and travels a distance of 5m, what was
the acceleration? From d=1/2 at2 use a = 2d/t2
Lab: Follow the directions below. Record your data in the chart.
1. Record your name and estimated weight in the table.
2. Your approximate mass in kg is your weight in pounds divided by 2. Calculate your mass
showing your work and record it in the table.
3. Measure the frictional force for you moving on a skateboard and record it on the chart.
(Pull the person at constant velocity and read the scale.)
4. Pull the person with an applied force of 5 – 10 newtons greater than the frictional force for a
distance of 5m and record the time.
5. Calculate acceleration using a = 2d/t2 Show your work! Place answers in data table.
6. Use your mass and your acceleration to calculate the net force on you. Use F = ma
Show your work! Place answers in data table.
Name / weightlbs / mass
kg / frictional
force (N) / time (s) / distance
(m) / acceleration
m/s2 / force
(N)