Physics Experiment - Acceleration

The scene lets students explore and review an experiment designed to develop scientific enquiry skills. By reviewing the apparatus, and key information, students will review and evaluate the experiment to deepen their understanding on obtaining evidence and data to draw a suitable conclusion about their observation. In this case, measuring acceleration of an object when the force used to accelerate an object is changed.

# Learning objectives

Describe a suitable method to investigate the effect of varying a force on acceleration of an object.{info}

Describe a suitable method to investigate the effect of varying the mass of an object has on the acceleration of that object.{info}

Calculate acceleration from the speed and time data collected.{info}

Analyse the effect of forces on acceleration for the chosen method{info}

# Experimental Design{.objective .objective1}

In this section the apparatus will be reviewed, and their suitable use will be evaluated to devise suitable methods of measuring acceleration. Students will explore the scene and review the apparatus used. They will describe the method used to obtain quantitative data for measuring acceleration of an object along an air track.

# Calculating Acceleration{.objective .objective2}

In this section a description of acceleration is outlined, and how obtaining the average speed of the moving object and the time taken or it to travel along a fixed distance can be used to calculate acceleration. Students will produce hypotheses and describe the effect of changing the independent variable for both outlined scenarios. They will also consider the need for reliability and accuracy in their procedure to make the data valid.

# Data Analysis{.objective .objective3}

In this section the importance of data analysis will be described and what purpose it serves during an investigation. Quantitative data will be described and how it eliminates bias due to the measurable outcome of the experiment removing subjectiveness. A description of the type of data will be highlighted and how it determines that a line graph will be suitable for the data. Students will review the data and determine the impact of changing the mass of the force used to accelerate the moving object. They will review the graph and describe if it is representative of the data.

# Teacher Resources

### Download Teacher Notes

[](https://data.avncloud.com/activities/795059/files/Physics%20Experiment+%E2%80%93+Acceleration+Teacher+Notes+Only.pdf?date=1678200948&size=805221&md5=a5e056b06c051a516a69d0fd1f55369d)

### Student Quiz Answers Document

[](https://data.avncloud.com/activities/795061/files/Physics%20Experiment+%E2%80%93+Acceleration+Answers.pdf?date=1678201001&size=326699&md5=afc7d49d6b47221a82326031f367c615)

### Download Student Quiz Document

[](https://data.avncloud.com/activities/795063/files/Physics%20Experiment+%E2%80%93+Acceleration+Quiz+Only.pdf?date=1678201043&size=95352&md5=0da216b55ac6ecdeff52f6ee59003d62)

# Science Labs Sample Questions

**Physics Experiment - Acceleration**

## Practice Question

1. Table 1 shows how the speed of a car changes with time as t accelerates uniformly.

| Time (s) | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|----------------------|----------|----------|----------|-----------|
| Speed (m/s) | 0 | 4 | 8 | 12 |

1. Write down the formula that links acceleration, velocity, and time.
2. Calculate the acceleration of the car. Show your working \___________\_ m/s^2^

## Mark scheme

1. Acceleration = Average velocity/time.
2. 4m/s^2^. The principle of this question is to work out the change in speed over a period of a second. In this data, the car’s velocity changes by 4m/s every second. Using the formula from the previous question, students should have shown their working: average velocity 4m/s and divide it by 1s.

Similarly, some students would have worked out a change in speed of 12m/s over 3 second. 12/3 = 4m/s^2^.