Comments on Lab Write-ups for this Lab (lab_comments.pdf)
In this lab you will be analyzing the motion of cylinders rolling down an inclined plane. We have a plane and cylinders for you to play with.
Below I show some data from rolling an empty coffee can and a large jar of mustard down an inclined plane. The position vs time graphs are plotted below for the two cylinders - which is which? I also fitted the cylinder 1 data to a polynomial. The fit parameters and errors are included in all the graphs. From this information - can you determine the angle of incline?
The velocity vs time and acceleration vs time are shown below with corresponding fits to a straight line. Fit parameters are displayed. Comment on the consistency (or lack of) of the fit results for the three different fits.
Procedure
- Collect data with at least two of the cylinders provided. Note the incline angle. Export the data to IGOR and fit the position, velocity and acceleration data. Compare the acceleration determined from the fits with the acceleration computed from the moment of inertia and angle of incline.
- Plot the total energy vs time (a) ignoring rotational energy; (b) including rotational energy
- Use Interactive Physics to simulate a disk, hoop and sphere rolling down an inclined plane. Export the position, velocity and acceleration data to IGOR and fit these data as in step 1. Compare acceleration from the fits to the expected accelerations.