Ball+on+Incline-+Tyler+Myers+and+Danielle+Myers

= Title of Lab: Ball on Incline =

**Researchers**: Tyler Myers and Danielle Myers

**Research Question**: How does the time it takes for a tennis ball to roll down an incline relate to the distance that it travels?


 * Research: **
 * By manipulating the equation d=v0t+(½)at² where v0=0, we find that t²=(2d)/(a).
 * Based on the results of the cart on incline lab we know that a=gsin θ.
 * Therefore, the equation relating time and distance traveled would be t²=(2d)/(gsin θ ).

The equation relating time and distance is t²=(2d)/(9.81 m/s²*sin15 °)
 * Hypothesis: **

**Procedure**: Materials: 1. Set up an incline with an angle of inclination between 10 and 20 degrees. 2. Next lay a meter stick down on the incline to measure the distance the ball had rolled down the incline. 3. Hold the ball at the top of the incline and let it roll a measured distance. 4. Record the time it took for the ball to roll the measured distance. 5. Do this 3 times for each measured distance. 6. Repeat steps 3-5 for varied distances. **Data**:
 * tennis ball
 * wooden incline
 * meter sticks
 * stopwatch
 * protractor
 * Distance(m) || Time(s) || Time^2(s^2) ||
 * .10 || .5 || .25 ||
 * .20 || .6 || .36 ||
 * .30 || .7 || .49 ||
 * .40 || .8 || .64 ||
 * .50 || .8 || .64 ||
 * .60 || .9 || .81 ||
 * .70 || .9 || .81 ||
 * .80 || 1.0 || 1.0 ||
 * .90 || 1.0 || 1.0 ||
 * 1.2 || 1.2 || 1.44 ||
 * 1.4 || 1.3 || 1.69 ||

**Data Analysis**: As one can easily see, this graph does not have a linear quality to it. As a result, we squared the time to achieve a more linear line.

Our data was inconclusive and therefore we can determine that the hypothesis was incorrect. The experimental gravity based on our data was 5.95 m/s² and the accepted value for gravity is 9.81 m/s² giving us a 39.3% error. There was a vast amount of error in our experiment. Sources of error could include that the stopwatch used was not very precise, and that we were not able to start and stop the stopwatch when the ball started and stopped. We could improve the experiment by placing highly accurate time gates at the beginning and end of the track to more accurately measure the data.
 * Conclusion**: