The Effect of Ramp Angle on the Acceleration of a Cart Down a Ramp
Abstract: In this experiment we are investigating the effect that the angle of a ramp has on the
acceleration of a cart moving down the ramp. We used a dynamics track at several angles and a
kinematics cart. We found that our model agreed with the experimental data, but our measurement of g
did not.
Introduction: In this experiment we are investigating the effect that the angle of a ramp has on the
acceleration of a cart moving down the ramp.
Procedure: In this lab we used a dynamics track, a kinematics cart, and a motion sensor that was
connected to Pasco. We set the ramp at 5 different angles, which we measured with a meter stick. Then
we allowed the cart to roll down the ramp, catching it before it hit the stop at the end, so that it did not
alter the angle. We did 5 trials and we kept the mass constant for each trial. You can use either position
vs. time or velocity vs. time to get the acceleration.
Theory: We can derive the relationship between the acceleration of the cart and the angle of the ramp
using Newton’s Laws. The model is a=g*sin(θ), where g is the acceleration due to gravity. In order to
linearize this model, we plotted acceleration vs. sin(θ) and we expect the slope to be g. Our independent
variable was the acceleration, in units of m/s^2, and our dependent variable was sin(θ), in units of
radians. We expect the acceleration to increase with angle, so as sin(θ) goes to infinity, so will the
acceleration. The y intercept should be zero, because the cart won’t move if there is no angle.
Data:
0 0 . 0 5 0 . 1 0 . 1 5 0 . 2 0 . 2 5 0 . 3 0 . 3 5
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
Accelerati on Vs sin(θ)
Model
Linear (Model)
Experimental
Sinθ (radians)
Acceleration (m/s ^2)
