Phy 121L/131L

Pre-Lab: Constant Acceleration Name:

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Choose the best answer. Refer to the lab manual for the definitions of the variables used below.

(10 pts total)

1. If we were to plot plot d vs t2 (distance traveled from rest versus the square of the time it took to travel that far), what are the S.I. units of the slope of this plot?

a. N b. m/s c. m/s2 d. s2/m

2. If the plot of d vs t2 is well fit by a straight line, what does this imply?

a. the acceleration is constant

b. the acceleration is increasing

c. the acceleration is decreasing

d. the initial velocity is zero

3. What should the slope of the plot of d vs t2 be equal to?

a. velocity b. acceleration c. ½ acceleration d. 2 x acceleration

4. What are the S.I. units of the y-intercept of a plot of d vs t2?

a. s b. s2 c. m d. m/s2

5. If the initial velocity of an object moving with constant acceleration is zero, what do we expect the y-intercept of a plot of d vs t2 to be?

a. less than zero b. greater than zero c. zero (line passes through origin)

6. What should the slope of the plot of v vs t (velocity versus time) be equal to?

a. velocity b. acceleration c. ½ acceleration d. 2 times acceleration

7. What should the slope of the plot of v2 vs d (velocity squared versus distance traveled) be equal to?

a. velocity b. acceleration c. ½ acceleration d. 2 times acceleration

8. According to the lab manual, how should you position the laser-gate?

a. So that the center of the ball passes through the laser beam near the bottom of the incline

b. At the “zero” on the metric ruler attached to the side of the incline

c. At the very bottom of the incline

9. According to the lab manual, what information does the computer need to determine the ball’s speed at the laser gate?

a. the time the laser gate is blocked by the ball

b. the time between pressing “d” and the ball passing through the gate

c. the diameter of the ball

d. Answers a and c.

10. If you measured a time, t, of 2.50 s for the ball to roll down your track, and estimate an overall uncertainty, δt, of 0.05 s, what is t2, including uncertainty?

a. (6.25 ± 0.10) s2 b. (6.25 ± 0.25) s2 c. (6.25 ± 0.04) s2

CSU Pomona Updated 6/23/09 Dr. Julie J. Nazareth