Ball Bearing Lab

Words: 312
Pages: 2

Motion of a Ball Bearing on a Ramp
Purpose: the purpose of this lab is to analyze and compare the average speed of 2 different ball bearings rolling down a ramp.

PREDICTION
1. What do you think will happen in this experiment?

MANIPULATED VARIABLE
2. What is the manipulated variable in this investigation?

RESPONDING VARIABLE
3. What is the responding variable in this investigation?

MATERIALS (per group)
2 meter sticks
1 large ball bearing
1 small ball bearing
4 text books
Timer

PROCEDURE
1. Make a ramp by placing 2 meter sticks side by side on top of 1 book. Leave a 0.5 cm gap between the two meter sticks.
2. On the tall end of the ramp, place the small ball bearing on the gap and let it roll down the ramp. Record the distance and the time it took the ball to reach the bottom of the ramp (use table 1).
3. Repeat step 3 for a total of three more times, but add another book each time so that your last run includes a 4-books-tall ramp.
4. Repeat steps 1 through 3, but using the large ball bearing (fill out table 2).

ANALYSIS
Make a graph of the number of books and the average speed for each table. Include the following:
a. Title
b.
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Label the x-axis (hint: the manipulated variable)
c. Label the y-axis.
d. Connect the dots with a line.
e. Use two different colors for each line on the graphing paper.

QUESTIONS
1. What do your data from table one indicate?

2. What do your data from table 2 indicate?

3. What patter do you observe in your graph?

4. Compare and contrast your data from table 1 and 2 (at least 4 complete sentences).

5. Explain why your prediction was correct or incorrect and support your answer with the evidence from your data.

DATA