phy221 lab 1 discovering motion - syracuse...

PHY221 – Lab 1 Discovering Motion: Introduction to Logger Pro and the Motion Detector; Motion with Constant Velocity

August 31, 2016

Print Your Name

______________________________________

Print Your Partners' Names

______________________________________

______________________________________

You will return this handout to the instructor at the end of the lab period.

Table of Contents 0. Introduction 1

1. Activity #1: Getting the Logger Pro software up and running 3

2. Activity #2: The Motion Detector as a distance measuring device 4

3. Activity #3: A series of constant velocity motions 7

4. Activity #4: Velocity versus Time 8

5. Activity #5: Match the given motion 10

6. Activity #6: Matching a velocity plot - A challenge 12

7. When you are done with the lab….. 13

0. Introduction

Abstract Measuring displacement in the General Physics lab; Motion Detector limitations; Logger Pro bug.

0.1 The Motion Detector and how it works

If you were asked to measure the speed with which a bowling ball rolls the length of a

bowling alley, you could start by looking around for a meter stick. You would use the meter

stick to measure the length of the bowling alley. You would also look around for a stopwatch to

measure the time needed for the bowling ball to get from one end of the alley to the other. Most

likely, you or your lab partner have a digital watch with a timer mode that will accurately record

times to 1/100 of a second. You could then roll the bowling ball and simultaneously start the

timer. When you see the bowling ball arrive at the end of the alley, you would stop the watch

and record the time. Most likely, you would believe this number: you trust the stopwatch as

much as you trust the meter stick.

If instead of making the single displacement-time measurement described in the previous

paragraph, you were asked to record the position of the bowling ball and the time it was at that

position for ten different locations as it rolled along the alley, you would have greater difficulty.

You would need a fancier stopwatch and a good method to determine when the ball reached the

desired location, and you would have to coordinate the timing. This is more difficult, and your

results using a meter stick and a stopwatch would probably be unreliable. In the General Physics

Lab we avoid this problem by stealing an idea found in the natural world.

Instructions

Before lab, read sections 0.1 and

acquaint yourself with the rest of the

lab. Answer the Pre-Lab Questions

on the last page of this handout.

Hand in your answers as you enter

the general physics lab.

Discovering Motion

The heart of your data acquisition system is a small blue box called a Motion Detector that

emits ultrasonic pulses like a bat does in order to measure displacement. The Motion Detector

emits ultrasonic pulses when told to do so by a computer. When the sound pulse reflects off an

object, an echo will return to the Motion Detector, after some time delay, causing the Motion

Detector to send a signal to the computer. The computer times the interval between emitting the

pulse and receiving the echo, and if the computer knows how fast the ultrasonic pulse travels in

air, it can determine the distance to the object. If the object is a distance d from the Motion

Detector, then the ultrasonic pulse travels a distance of 2d, i.e. 1d to the object, and 1d back to

the Motion Detector. The computer records the time, t, for the pulse to travel 2d and, knowing

the speed v of the pulse in air, it can determine the distance, d, to the object from

tvd 2 , whence

tvd21 .

Your computer can perform as many as 50 distance measurements per second. The

computer can even draw a graph, plotting the distance it determines as the object's displacement

on the vertical axis and the time on the horizontal axis.

0.2 Motion Detector limitations

However, the Motion Detector has some limitations. You need to be aware of these.

The closest an object should be for accurate distance measurements is 15 cm.

The Motion Detector emits ultrasonic pulses in a 15 cone, about the same angle that an ice

cream cone has. Any object that lies within this cone, including objects in which you are

not interested, can reflect pulses back to the Motion Detector giving you false data!

Beware of notebooks, pencils, arms, etc.

Distance measurements may be accurate only within a range of 0.5 cm to 1.0 cm with

some of the Motion Detectors. They are not accurately calibrated to match standard units

of distance.

Discovering Motion

Equipment: Meter stick

Two blocks

Computer running Logger Pro (Version 3.10.xx1) laboratory software

LabQuest interface box

Motion Detector

Celsius thermometer (to determine room temperature)

DiscoverMotion.cmbl (Logger Pro setup file)

VelocityMatch.cmbl (Logger Pro setup file)

1. Activity #1: Getting the Logger Pro software up and running

Abstract Run and initialize Logger Pro for use with a Motion Detector.

1.1 Connect the Motion Detector to DIG 1 on the LabQuest interface. Switch on the interface

box if it is not already on. The front panel LED screen will light up.

1.2 Turn on the computer, and wait until Windows is completely loaded.

Figure 1: Initial Logger Pro startup screen

1.3 On the desktop, double-click the Logger Pro icon. This will run the Logger Pro software.

You should see the screen shown in Figure 1. If you do not see the screen in Figure 1, ask your

instructor to help you.

1.4 Right now, Logger Pro is ready to use the Motion Detector, but we may want to specify

exactly what data we want to record, how often we want to record, etc. We can do this easily by

opening a Logger Pro setup file. To do this ...

Discovering Motion

Figure 2: Highlight “DiscoverMotion.cmbl” and click “Open”

1.5 On the main menu, click on File, and choose Open. On the window that pops open (see

Figure 2), select the file in the Desktop LoggerPro folder named “DiscoverMotion.cmbl” by

highlighting it and then clicking Open.

Figure 3: Logger Pro displaying file "DiscoverMotion.cmbl"

1.5.1 Your screen should appear as shown in Figure 3.

1.5.2 The file “DiscoverMotion.cmbl” tells Logger Pro that a Motion Detector has been

connected to the interface box. This in turn lets the software send and receive the right

kind of signals. Furthermore, the computer is now set to record and display displacement

versus time data at a rate of 40 samples/sec (that is, the computer records the

displacement of a moving object 40 times every second) for 10 seconds.

2. Activity #2: The Motion Detector as a distance measuring device

Abstract Fundamental test of the Motion Detector, to determine how well it measures distance.

Motion detector Block 2

Meter scale

Block 1

Figure 4: Experimental setup

Discovering Motion

Section 1 Closest block (cm) Furthest block (cm) Furthest - Closest

Meter Stick

Motion Detector

Difference


Meter Stick

Motion Detector

Difference


Meter Stick

Motion Detector

Difference

Table 1

2.1 Here is an activity to test the Motion Detector. Start by setting a meter stick on your lab table,

with the end reading 0 cm butted up against the Motion Detector (Figure 4). Position one block

50 cm from the Motion Detector (remember, this is about as close as you can accurately record

position measurements), and position another block 10 cm or 20 cm farther away (i.e., at 60 cm

or 70 cm). Write the exact displacements for your two blocks in Section 1 of Table 1 in the row

labeled Meter Stick.

2.2 Position the mouse over the Collect button and left click. You should hear the Motion

Detector clicking. This clicking is not the ultrasonic pulse but only a result of the mechanical

means by which the pulse is produced. You cannot hear the ultrasonic pulse. After 10 s, the

computer will automatically stop taking data. By clicking Collect again, you can take data

again, erasing the old data.

2.3 Click Collect again. You should see a flat line. After about 5 s, remove the block at 50 cm.

You should see a jump in the displacement versus time curve. Then wait until the Motion

Detector finishes collecting data.

2.4 The idea now is to get the displacements determined by the computer. To do so, click

Analyze and from the pull-down menu that opens choose Examine.

2.4.1 You should get a vertical line with a small circle on it overlapping the plot on the

screen. If you move your mouse around you will see that the small circle traces the plot

that you have on the screen.

2.4.2 On the upper left hand corner of your screen is a small box which will tell you the

displacement of any one of the angle blocks to the Motion Detector. Move the cursor

Discovering Motion

around using the mouse and watch the displacement measurement. This number should

not vary more than 1 mm.

2.4.3 Using the Examine tool, determine the displacements of the two angle blocks

from the Motion Detector and record these displacements in Section 1 of Table 1 in the

row labeled Motion Detector.

2.5 The right-most column in Table 1 is for the displacement between the two blocks. Subtract

the previous two numbers in each row, and enter the result into the last cell of the row.

2.6 Repeat this experiment two more times using different positions for the blocks and with

different partners doing the setup, measurement, and calculations, putting the results in Section 2

and Section 3 of Table 1.

Q 1 Give a quantitative summary of the accuracy with which the Motion Detector measures

displacements. By how much is it off in each run?

Discovering Motion

3. Activity #3: A series of constant velocity motions

Do not use the Motion Detector to answer the following question. It is a "theory" question. Answer as best you can based on what you know.

Q 2 On the grid below, sketch a plot of displacement versus time for the motion described in

the following bullets. Label the axes, and include units and a title.

A person stands in front of the Motion Detector at a displacement of 2.0 m for 2 s.

Then the person walks normally and as smoothly as possible towards the Motion

Detector for 2 s and stops, making sure not to get within 50 cm of the Motion Detector.

The person remains at rest for 2 s.

The person walks away from the Motion Detector for 2 s and stops.

3.1 After responding to the preceding question, place the Motion Detector at the edge of the

table, pointing away from nearby objects. You will need about 2.5 m of free floor space in front

of the Motion Detector in which to walk. Mark out displacements of 50 cm and 2.0 m on the

floor in front of the Motion Detector.

3.2 Proceed to collect displacement data using Logger Pro while following as closely as possible

the directions in the bullets for the preceding question. One team member plays the role of the

moving target while another clicks the Collect button and assists the moving target in

maintaining the prescribed time intervals by counting seconds out loud. You may have to

practice a few times before you get good data. To get good data, you need to be aware of the

following.

3.2.1 After clicking the Collect button, the moving target should not move until the

Motion Detector starts making a regular and repeated clicking sound, indicating it is

working.

3.2.2 When the moving target is done moving, s/he stands still until the clicking stops

(which is 10 seconds after data taking starts).

3.2.3 Make sure that the displacement-time plot displayed by the computer agrees with

the motion of the moving object. In particular, make sure that the computer shows the

Discovering Motion

moving object at about 2.0 m when the moving object was indeed at about 2.0 m, and so

on.

3.2.4 If the Logger Pro graph is not fairly smooth, it must be because the Motion

Detector was detecting an object other than the person walking in front of it. Remove all

such objects, and repeat the experiment until you have convinced yourself that the

Motion Detector faithfully describes the motion of the person moving in front of it.

3.2.5 To automatically scale the graph so that the data nicely fills the graph, press Ctrl-J

(hold down the Ctrl key while pressing and releasing the key for the letter J).

3.3 Store and hide the current data. Under the Experiment tab, you will see the option to Store

Latest Run (or Hide Latest Run, etc).

3.4 Switch roles among the team members until everyone has had a chance to be the object the

Motion Detector tracks in steps 3.2 – 3.3, and everyone has had a turn controlling the computer

and counting out loud. Store each person's best displacement-time data set.

3.5 Of all the displacement-time data sets that you have stored, pick the one that most closely

matches the prescribed motion and redisplay it on your screen. Under the Data tab, you will see

that you can show a particular data set by choosing Show Data Set Run #. Print the data you

just re-displayed. Make one copy for each person at your table.

4. Activity #4: Velocity versus Time

Q 3 For the data set you just printed, make a sketch on the grid below of what you expect a

graph of velocity versus time will look like. Please be sure to label the axes. Include units and

a title.

0.0 m/s

4.1 You can get Logger Pro to plot a velocity versus time graph for the displacement data you

have chosen. To do this click on the label "Displacement" that you see on the vertical axis of the

displacement-time plot, and use Ctrl-J to re-scale the graph, if necessary.

4.2 On the window that pops up, remove the tick mark in the box to the left of "Displacement"

by clicking on the box and place a tick mark on the box to the left of "Velocity" by clicking on

that box. Click OK. You should now see a graph of velocity versus time for the chosen

displacement-time data.

Discovering Motion

4.3 You may notice very large fluctuations in your velocity plot. This is because your

displacement plot was not very smooth to start with and because of the way Logger Pro

calculates velocities. Small fluctuations in the displacement data are greatly amplified when

calculating velocities. That's life, and there is not much you can do about it.

4.4 Delete all saved runs except the one you want to keep, and then print the Velocity versus

Time data. Make one copy for each person at your table. (We have found that if you do not

delete the saved runs, the printouts are blank. This is another Logger Pro bug.)

4.5 Although your velocity data may look messy, you can still extract some information from it,

as the questions below prescribe. Refer only to the velocity-time plot to answer these questions.

Q 4 Illustrate on your graph where you are moving and where you are standing still. In the

space below, explain how arrived at your conclusions.

4.6 After you are done with this activity, delete all the stored runs. Please do not save anything

on the hard drive.

Discovering Motion

Figure 5 A displacement-time graph of a person walking in front of the Motion Detector.

5. Activity #5: Match the given motion

Abstract Practice with displacement versus time graphs by making your motion match a given graph.

5.1 Shown in Figure 5 is displacement data collected by someone walking in front of the Motion

Detector. Refer to Figure 5 to answer questions Q 5 through Q 10.

Q 5 From a careful study of the displacement-time graph, create a detailed description of the

entire motion of the person . When was s/he going toward the motion detector, away from the

motion detector, or standing still?

Q 6 What is the greatest displacement of the person with respect to the Motion Detector?

Discovering Motion

Q 7 How far away from the Motion Detector was the person standing when the experiment

began?

Q 8 Is the person walking faster when moving away from or towards the Motion Detector?

Explain.

Q 9 Estimate the velocity of the person walking towards the Motion Detector. Please show

your work. You answer must have the correct sign, plus or minus. You can also estimate your

velocity by noting the slope of the tangent line. Select Analyze Tangent. What can you say

about the slope of the tangent in this region?

Q 10 For the data in the Displacement versus Time graph, sketch a graph of Velocity versus

Time on the grid provided below. Please be sure to label the axes. Include units and a title.

Discovering Motion

5.2 Each team member should take a turn in front of the Motion Detector (with another team

member acting as coordinator) and try moving so as to create a copy of the displacement-time

plot shown in Figure 5. As before, click on Collect on the main menu when you are ready to

collect data. This does not need to be perfect, but try to get the general shape. It may take some

practice. Before starting, tell yourself what you are going to do.

5.3 Make Logger Pro display two panes (starting from the main menu bar: View Graph

Layout Two Panes), one showing Displacement versus Time and the other showing Velocity

versus Time (click on the y-axis label to select the quantity to be graphed).

5.4 Each person prints one copy of their Logger Pro graph when they get a good one.

5.5 When every team member is done with matching the motion and has printed their graph,

click on File and then choose Close, to close the file DiscoverMotion.mbl. Please do not save

anything on the hard drive.

6. Activity #6: Matching a velocity plot - A challenge

Abstract Attempting to match a given velocity versus time graph.

6.1 Click on File on the main menu, and choose Open. On the window that pops up, double-

click on the file named “VelocityMatch.mbl.” Your screen should now appear as shown in

Figure 6. This is a computer generated velocity-time graph.

Figure 6: VelocityMatch.cmbl – try to match this graph.

Discovering Motion

Q 11 Explain in words how you will have to move in order to duplicate every part of the

Velocity versus Time graph that you just opened.

Q 12 Does your starting position (as long as you are within limits of the Motion Detector)

matter when duplicating the graph? Why or why not?

6.2 Each person takes a turn trying to duplicate the graph in Figure 6. It may take some practice

to obtain good results.

6.3 When you think you have a good graph, have the lab instructor check it. If s/he approves,

print one copy of it for each member of your group.

7. When you are done with the lab…..

7.1 Click on File on the main menu, and choose Exit to quit Logger Pro. Please do not save

anything on the hard drive.

7.2 Turn off the ULIII interface, but leave the computer turned on.

7.3 Write your name and your partners' names in the places provided on the first page of this

handout.

7.4 Staple your four printouts to this handout. You made printouts in sections 3.5, 4.4, 5.4, and

6.3.

7.5 Turn in this handout, with all questions answered and the four printouts attached, before you

leave the lab.

Discovering Motion

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Discovering Motion

Pre-Lab Questions

Print Your Name

______________________________________

Read the Introduction to this handout, and answer the following questions before you come to General

Physics Lab. Write your answers directly on this page. When you enter the lab, tear off this page and hand it in.

1. What does the Motion Detector do?

2. What goes wrong if an object gets too close to the Motion Detector?

3. How close is too close?

4. The Motion Detector works by (choose correct item) (a) timing radio waves, (b) radar, (c)

timing sound waves, (d) using visible light, (e) a meter stick.

5. How wide is the beam emitted by the Motion Detector?

6. What happens if you leave a notebook near the object the Motion Detector is monitoring?

7. The Motion detector uses the formula distance = ½vt. The usual formula for distance is

distance = vt. Why does the Motion Detector use a different formula?

8. Why does the Motion Detector need calibrating?

9. About how accurate are some of the Motion Detectors?

10. What is the Logger Pro bug?

11. Where are the Reference Pages kept?

12. In the blank graph below, draw a Displacement versus Time graph for the following motion.

(This is not discussed in the Introduction to this handout. Refer to your General Physics text,

if necessary.) Sam starts at 2.0 meters from the origin, walks away from the origin at two

meters per second for two seconds, stands still for three seconds, and then walks towards the

origin at one meter per second for three seconds, and stops for two seconds.

Discovering Motion

Displacement versus Time

Displacement

(meters)

Time

(seconds)

0

2

4

6

8

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Graph for question 12

phy221 lab 1 discovering motion - syracuse...

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