Measuring Automobile Speed



A close-up photo of a golden thumbtack with its sharp end pointing upwards.

Measuring Automobile Speed
A Scientific Investigation


Lab Experiment #1
Conducted by DJ Hadoken
(with: Unknowing Impostor, Mistaken Identity, DJ Fuji the Man Scout)

Objective:
To create an automobile and measure its speed.

Materials:
A. Wooden cylinder

B. Watch

C. Rubber band

D. Meterstick

E. Wooden stick

F. Thumbtack

G. Paper clip

Procedures:
1. Take the wooden stick and utilize it to push the rubber band through the wooden cylinder, making sure that the rubber band is hinged onto the thumb tack, which should be embedded in the side of the cylinder.

2. Use the stick to wind the rubber band, making sure that the paper clip is between the rubber band and the stick in order to reduce friction.

3. Measure the distance and time covered while the automobile is in motion. Test for three tries and record the data.

Results:

A table showing the data gathered from three trials in the first experiment.

A pie chart representation of the "Distance" data of the first experiment.

Conclusion:
The average speed (velocity) was about 0.84 m/s while the average distance was about 2.5 meters. The acceleration appears to be constant, however, a margin of error exists in the data that may have affected the automobile’s performance (i.e. rubber band breaking or jamming). This is noted in the data collected, in which on one test, the automobile traveled significantly farther than the other two tests.


Lab Experiment #2
Conducted by DJ Skittles
(with: Witty Witch and The Minstrel)


Objectives:
1.) Create an automobile.

2.) Measure its speed.

Materials:
A. Wooden spool

B. Rubber band

C. Wooden stick

D. Paper clip

E. Watch

F. Meterstick

G. Thumbtack

Procedures:
1. The first thing you do, make sure you have all the materials.

2. Get the paper clip and form it into a hook.

3. Now, get paper clip and use it to get the rubber band through the hole in the middle of the wooden spool.

4. Take the tack, place it on the rubber band. Then attach it to the wooden spool.

5. Place the wooden stick in the middle of the rubber band at the other end.

6. With the “automobile” created, place it on the floor. Let it go and then measure the distance from where the car started to where it stopped. Then record results.

7. Repeat step 6.

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Results:

A table showing the data gathered from five trials in the second experiment.

A pie chart representation of the "Distance" data of the second experiment.

Conclusion:
The acceleration appears to be constant. A problem exists in the data that may have affected the automobile’s performance. The results for the test were different due to the problems.


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