Cordelia Galphin
Joe Glembocki
Jack Tompkins
Video Tape Counters
The Exponential Measure of Time
Abstract
When watching a movie on a video tape, people usually believe that the counter acts on a linear function of time. However, the counter actually behaves as an exponential function of time. As the reel gains tape, its radius increases. The velocity of the tape across the head is constant. Therefore, as the circumference of the reel increases proportionally to the increase of the radius, the angular velocity of the reel must decrease. After watching the tape twice, we graph the number on the tapecounter verse’s time. Through separable differential equations we are able to determine the equation for the relationship between the counter and time. Finally, we check the graph of the equation against the graph of our original data. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of these graphs reveal that our derived equations accruately portray the relationship between counter readings and time.
Introduction
This lab analyzes data from a VCR tape deck with digital counter (example 4.20 in our textbook). We attempt to model the relationship between tapecounter readings and time. Making our data runs, we start with the counter at zero and a fully rewound tape of NOVA’s Einstein. As the tape is playing, we record the number on the tape counter every five minutes for the duration of the movie. We then use the data to determine properties of the tape and VCR.
Additionally, we take measurements on the tape to determine actual R(0), and with this data we also determine tape thickness, c, by measuring a given wrapped radius, subtracting R(0), and dividing by the number of turns on the tape. Once the length of the tape is determined, v follows from the average of the length divided by time as v is maintained constant by the machine.
We begin by analyzing the problem. The tapecounter tracks the number of revolutions of the take-up reel. By noting that the number of revolutions is proportional to the angle, A(t), we can relate tapecounter readings, n(t), to time by the equation
(1)
A relationship between the angle swept out, A(t) measured in radians, and the radius, R(t), can be seen in Figure 1.
Figure 1 The take-up reel (seen from above).
The area of the tape on the reel (as seen from above) at time t is given by the washer-shaped region in Figure 1, [R2(t) - R2(0)]. Dividing this area by the thickness of the tape, c, we obtain the amount of tape on the reel at time t, which is also given by the velocity times time, vt, where
(2)
The angle swept (measured in radians) times the radius again gives the amount of tape on the reel at time t, so that the velocity can be written as the change in A(t) with respect to t times R(t). Solving for angular velocity, dA(t)/dt, gives
(3)
Solving equation (2) for R(t), collecting constants, and substituting into equation (3) gives the differential equation
(4)
where the constant b is given by
(5)
The solution of equation (4) is found by separating variables and integrating both sides
(6)
Using the initial condition A(0)=0,
C = ,
which gives an equation for the area with respect to time,
(7)
Substituting equation (7) into equation (1) and defining
shows the tapecounter readings, n(t), are a function of t and the constants a and b
(8)
Here the constants a and b depend only on the tape and the machine being used. This equation should model the data (refer DATA1). Comparing graphs of the data to graphs of the model should substantiate the validity of this model.
Results and Discussion
Validity of the model is indicated by the correlation of the data’s best fit curve to the model’s curve.
Figure 2
In order to gleen more information from equation (8) as it relates to the machine and tape, we solve for t and divide through by n to get the linear equation
(9)
Figure 3
Plotting equation (9) allows reading off the slope and y-intercepts and solving for b and a (Figure 3). Figure (3) shows a slope of 0.00004705 and y-intercept of 0.092352. Using the values for slope and y-intercept obtained from Figure 3, Maple is used to solve for a (981.5) and b (.02206). Figure 4 is a plot of the data superimposed on the curve from equation (8) with these values of a and b.
Figure 4
Conclusions
Quantitative analyses of Figure 4 reveals close fit (2.5 percent error) between the model and data. Based on this we feel confident that we could use this model to predict VCR/tape properties, such as tape length verses counter reading, tape velocity, and spool thickness verses time.