PHY250L Lab 2 Kinematics Exam
Questions and Answers 2025-2026.
“Pre-Lab Questions”
1. “What is the acceleration of a ball that is vertically tossed up when it reached its maximum
height?”
The ball will have a velocity of 0 m/s at its highest point and the acceleration will be 9.8 m/s2
down.
“
2. “The displacement of a particle as it varies with time is given by the equation
x(t) = (10.0 m/s) t + (2.50 m/s²) t². Find the particle’s instantaneous velocity and instantaneous
acceleration at t = 4.00 seconds.”
Instantaneous velocity = 10+5t = 10+5(4)= 30 m/s Instantaneous acceleration= 0+5 = 5 m/s^2
3. “What does a positive and negative slope represent for a velocity vs. time graph?”
If the velocity vs. time graph has a positive slope it indicates the object is speeding
up/accelerating. If the graph has a negative slope it indicates that the object is slowing
down/decelerating.
4. “You know that a car moves with a velocity that can be modeled as v(t)= 4.0 m/s + (1.2 m/s²)t and
that at t = 0 the car has a displacement of 5.00 meters from the origin. What is the position of the
car at t = 4.0 seconds?”
4t+1.2(t2/2)+5=position --> position=4*4+1.2*8+5=30.6 meters
5. “Derive the second kinematic equation by integration of the first kinematic equation. Then derive
the third kinematic equation by using algebra to combine the first and second kinematic
equations.”
1). v=u+a*t 2). s=u*t+1/2*a*t^2 t=v-u/a s=u*t+1/2*a*t^2
s=u*(v-u)/a+1/2*a*(v-u)^2/a^2=v^2-u^2=2*a*s
“Experiment 1: Distance of Free Fall”
“Table 1: Washer Free Fall Data”
“Trail” “Drop Height (m)” “Time (s)”
“1”
0.55 s
“2” 1.80 m 0.64 s
“3” 0.49 s
“Average” 0.56 s
“Description of Auditory Observations of Equally Spaced Hex Nuts:” There was about the same interval
between the ‘clangs’, but as the hex nuts hit each ‘clang’ was noticeablely louder.
, Lab 2 Kinematics PHY250L”
“Description of Auditory Observations of Unequally Spaced Hex Nuts:” The first three ‘clangs’ were very
close to each other and the last considerably louder.
“Post-Lab Questions”
1. “Record your hypothesis from Step 1 here. Use evidence from your results to explain if your
hypothesis was supported or not.”
If the space is in between the hex nuts is increased then the sound will be louder when the hex
nuts hit the metal pan.
2. “What was the difference between the noise patterns for equally spaced hex nuts compared to
the unequally spaced hex nuts?”
The sound for the equally spaced hex nuts was more uniform and after hearing the sound that
the unequally spaced hex nuts you could tell that the spacing was considerably different.
3. “If the noise patterns were different, explain why. If they were similar, explain why.”
The noise patterns were different because the acceleration due to gravity had longer to act on the
hex nuts that were higher giving them more momentum and this momentum was converted to
sound when they hit the metal pan.
4. “Using the time it took a single hex nut to reach the pan, calculate the height from which it was
dropped. Is this accurate compared to your known height? Explain your conclusion.”
The calculated height and know height were close to being the same. The only error would
ccome from the air friction and being that it was a fairly quick experiment the air friction is not
that much.
5. “A student ran this experiment, and instead of dropping the hex nut, he threw it. This gave the
nut a velocity of v(t) = (12 m/s²)t + 5 m/s. What is the hex nut’s displacement as a function of time
if its position at t = 0 seconds is 0 meters? If the hex nut dropped 1.2 meters, how long did it take
for the nut to reach the ground?”
6t^2+5t 6t^2+5t-1.2= 0.19sec
“Experiment 2: Distance Traveled by a Projectile”
“Pre-Lab Questions”
1. “In one of your experiments, you will roll a marble down a ramp to provide an initial horizontal
velocity. Suppose you start the marble at rest (v˳= 0 m/s) and it travels a distance of, d, down the
ramp. Use 1-D kinematics to predict the velocity of the ball (v ) at the bottom of the ramp. Hint:
ᶠ
the acceleration of the ball down the ramp is 9.81*sin(θ) m/s² where θ is the angle of the ramp.
Record your answer in variables (you will calculate the velocity with magnitudes when you
perform the experiment).”
V=(u^2+2as)^(1/2) = (0+(9.81 m/s^2)*sin(theta)*s)^(1/2)
2. “Use the kinematic equations to derive a general equation for the time it takes a ball dropped
from rest at vertical height, h, to reach the ground. Use this to write a general equation for the
Questions and Answers 2025-2026.
“Pre-Lab Questions”
1. “What is the acceleration of a ball that is vertically tossed up when it reached its maximum
height?”
The ball will have a velocity of 0 m/s at its highest point and the acceleration will be 9.8 m/s2
down.
“
2. “The displacement of a particle as it varies with time is given by the equation
x(t) = (10.0 m/s) t + (2.50 m/s²) t². Find the particle’s instantaneous velocity and instantaneous
acceleration at t = 4.00 seconds.”
Instantaneous velocity = 10+5t = 10+5(4)= 30 m/s Instantaneous acceleration= 0+5 = 5 m/s^2
3. “What does a positive and negative slope represent for a velocity vs. time graph?”
If the velocity vs. time graph has a positive slope it indicates the object is speeding
up/accelerating. If the graph has a negative slope it indicates that the object is slowing
down/decelerating.
4. “You know that a car moves with a velocity that can be modeled as v(t)= 4.0 m/s + (1.2 m/s²)t and
that at t = 0 the car has a displacement of 5.00 meters from the origin. What is the position of the
car at t = 4.0 seconds?”
4t+1.2(t2/2)+5=position --> position=4*4+1.2*8+5=30.6 meters
5. “Derive the second kinematic equation by integration of the first kinematic equation. Then derive
the third kinematic equation by using algebra to combine the first and second kinematic
equations.”
1). v=u+a*t 2). s=u*t+1/2*a*t^2 t=v-u/a s=u*t+1/2*a*t^2
s=u*(v-u)/a+1/2*a*(v-u)^2/a^2=v^2-u^2=2*a*s
“Experiment 1: Distance of Free Fall”
“Table 1: Washer Free Fall Data”
“Trail” “Drop Height (m)” “Time (s)”
“1”
0.55 s
“2” 1.80 m 0.64 s
“3” 0.49 s
“Average” 0.56 s
“Description of Auditory Observations of Equally Spaced Hex Nuts:” There was about the same interval
between the ‘clangs’, but as the hex nuts hit each ‘clang’ was noticeablely louder.
, Lab 2 Kinematics PHY250L”
“Description of Auditory Observations of Unequally Spaced Hex Nuts:” The first three ‘clangs’ were very
close to each other and the last considerably louder.
“Post-Lab Questions”
1. “Record your hypothesis from Step 1 here. Use evidence from your results to explain if your
hypothesis was supported or not.”
If the space is in between the hex nuts is increased then the sound will be louder when the hex
nuts hit the metal pan.
2. “What was the difference between the noise patterns for equally spaced hex nuts compared to
the unequally spaced hex nuts?”
The sound for the equally spaced hex nuts was more uniform and after hearing the sound that
the unequally spaced hex nuts you could tell that the spacing was considerably different.
3. “If the noise patterns were different, explain why. If they were similar, explain why.”
The noise patterns were different because the acceleration due to gravity had longer to act on the
hex nuts that were higher giving them more momentum and this momentum was converted to
sound when they hit the metal pan.
4. “Using the time it took a single hex nut to reach the pan, calculate the height from which it was
dropped. Is this accurate compared to your known height? Explain your conclusion.”
The calculated height and know height were close to being the same. The only error would
ccome from the air friction and being that it was a fairly quick experiment the air friction is not
that much.
5. “A student ran this experiment, and instead of dropping the hex nut, he threw it. This gave the
nut a velocity of v(t) = (12 m/s²)t + 5 m/s. What is the hex nut’s displacement as a function of time
if its position at t = 0 seconds is 0 meters? If the hex nut dropped 1.2 meters, how long did it take
for the nut to reach the ground?”
6t^2+5t 6t^2+5t-1.2= 0.19sec
“Experiment 2: Distance Traveled by a Projectile”
“Pre-Lab Questions”
1. “In one of your experiments, you will roll a marble down a ramp to provide an initial horizontal
velocity. Suppose you start the marble at rest (v˳= 0 m/s) and it travels a distance of, d, down the
ramp. Use 1-D kinematics to predict the velocity of the ball (v ) at the bottom of the ramp. Hint:
ᶠ
the acceleration of the ball down the ramp is 9.81*sin(θ) m/s² where θ is the angle of the ramp.
Record your answer in variables (you will calculate the velocity with magnitudes when you
perform the experiment).”
V=(u^2+2as)^(1/2) = (0+(9.81 m/s^2)*sin(theta)*s)^(1/2)
2. “Use the kinematic equations to derive a general equation for the time it takes a ball dropped
from rest at vertical height, h, to reach the ground. Use this to write a general equation for the
