Lab #1: The Sphere Rolling Down the Ramp Into the Plastic Truncated Cone

Problem: How does the variable that I'm changing affect how far a cup will slide on a plastic map

Initial Predictions, Observations, Inferences:

Predictions
Observations
Inferences

Hypothesis: If I change this variable (Independent variable) then the cup will be affected in this way (dependent variable).

Materials:

• ramp placemat
• plastic cup with “door” cut out and 5.0g mass on top
• plastic cup
• grooved ruler
• A golf ball
• masking tape

Variables:

Independent
Dependent
Constants

Procedure: (Written in numbered steps)

1. We set up our materials as instructed.
2. We released a sphere down a ramp
3.  
4. 
   

Results

Data Table 1: Distance (cm) the ball pushes the plastic cup

Mass of ball	Trial 1	Trial 2	Trial 3	Average
ball #1
ball #2
ball #3

Data Table 1: Distance (cm) the ball pushes the plastic cup

Starting Height	Trial 1	Trial 2	Trial 3	Average
Height #1
Height #2
Height #3

Data Table 1: Distance (cm) the ball pushes the plastic cup

Mass of cups	Trial 1	Trial 2	Trial 3	Average
Mass #1
Mass #2
Mass #3

Data Table 1: Distance (cm) the ball pushes the plastic cup

Surface	Trial 1	Trial 2	Trial 3	Average
plastic mat
paper towel
surface 33

Observations, Inferences:

	Put your data/numbers into words
Observations	What are the numbers saying?
Inferences	Why?  What happened?  What does this mean?  Explain your observations!

Analysis:

1. Where did the cup travel the farthest?  What property about that variable causes the difference?

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2. Why was it important to test each drop three times? Why have three trials instead of just one? Why calculate an average?

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3. What is the importance of only changing ONE variable, while keeping the other variables CONSTANT?

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4. Predict what you think would happen if we performed the same experiment with sandpaper as your surface.

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5.Predict what would happen if we used ice as a surface. 

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6. You have tested the how your Independent Variable affects an object's ability to move:

 a. what other tests could you perform with the same materials?

 _____________________________________________________________________

b. if you could add one more material, what would it be and what would you measure?

_____________________________________________________________________

 c. If you could add 2 more materials, what would they be and what would you measure?

______________________________________________________________________

d. For each of the above, label the following: Independent Variable, Dependent Variable, 3 Constants.  ____________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

7.  Construct a bar graph showing your results.  Use the following information to assist you with the graph: x-axis - YOUR Independent Variable, y-axis - distance the cup moved (cm), title - bar graph comparing how MY INDEPENDENT VARIABLE affects the distance a cup moves after being pushed by a golf ball released from the same height. 

Conclusion

What was your problem?

Restate your hypothesis.  Was it right? wrong?  why or why not? Did you change your hypothesis in the middle of your investigation?  If so, why? How is this investigation connected to 'real life'?

What did you learn in this lab?

What did you like about this lab?

What were some challenges you had to deal with?

What could you do next with this problem?  What other tests could you perform?

Write down any other additional thoughts, observations, inferences, etc.