Physics 400
Name:
 
Data Collection—Table 1:
Trials
Distance (cm)
Time (s)
Average Speed (cm/s)
(see question 2)
Start
0 cm
 0.0
 
1
100.0 cm (first section)
 
 
2
200.0 cm (first two sections)
 
 
3
300.0 cm (first three sections)
 
 
4
400.0 cm (entire distance)
 
 
 
Remember to include graphs A and B in this document or as separate attachments.
 
 
 
Data Collection – Table 2:
                
Overall Average Speed (cm/s) from graph B
 
 
 
Questions: Answer using complete sentences and show your work for all calculations.
 
1.     How does the shape of graph A compare to the shape of the graph B?
 
 
2.     For graph A, you can determine the average speed over any interval by using the slope formula, m = ∆y/∆x. Using two adjacent points, determine the average speed over each interval you plotted. Be sure to show your work for all calculations. Include the average speeds in Table 1. 
 
 
3.     On graph B, find the slope of the line. That is the average speed for that graph. Record that in Table 2.
 
 
4.     Why are the speed values in Table 1 and Table 2 called "average" instead of "instantaneous"?
 
 
5.     Refer to the data from trials 1-4.
a.     What happens to the average speed of the rolling ball as it moves from one 100.0 cm segment to the next 100.0 cm segment?
 
 
b.     What causes the change in the ball’s speed as it moves from one 100.0 cm segment to the next 100.0 cm segment?
 
 
6.     How do the average speed values for the shorter intervals compare to the average speed value for Graph B?