Kinematics Module

Velocity
Vectors.

Analyze dependent motion of particles on inclined planes. Calculate kinetic friction coefficients via simulated mass drops.

4.0 Theory and Equations

Figure 2: Dependent motion analyses

A Ground Distance, s Height, h θ

The relationship of displacement, velocity, and acceleration between the hanging weights and block A can be determined using Newton’s second law:

ΣF = m a

In this experiment, the velocity and acceleration of weight w and block A can be calculated using these equations:

Equations

Velocity of block A, vA = s / t
(1.1)
Velocity of weight, vw = h / t
(1.2)
Acceleration of block A, aA = (vA − uA) / t
(1.3)
Acceleration of weight, aw = (vw − uw) / t
(1.4)
Coefficient of kinetic friction, μ = Ff / N
(1.5)
Where: Ff = friction force, N = normal force.

"Sliding Gears" Simulation

🔒

Student Auth Required

Time (t) 0.00s
Dist (s) 0.00m
BLOCK A
W

Current Performance

0 pts

Daily Life Game: Laundry Line Challenge

Predict how a simple clothesline with two baskets behaves when their masses change. This reinforces dependent motion intuition in an everyday context.

L
R

Two baskets connected by a rope over a roof

1. Current Round

Press "Start Round" to generate basket masses.

Left Basket

- kg

Right Basket

- kg

2. Your Prediction

Daily Game Score

0 pts

Concept Check Quiz

Answer 5 multiple-choice questions to test your understanding of dependent motion and the sliding system.

Quiz Score

0 pts

1. In a dependent motion system, when block A moves 0.5 m down the incline, the hanging weight will:

2. Increasing the angle of the incline (from 15° to 45°) generally causes the acceleration of block A to:

3. The main purpose of using the time and distance data from the simulation is to determine:

4. In the laundry line game, if both baskets have the same mass, the system will:

5. For block A on an incline, the component of its weight pulling it down the plane is:

Laboratory Rubric

Criteria Item Score 5 (Excellent) Score 4 (Good) Score 3 (Satisfactory) Score 2 (Poor) Score 1 (Very Poor)
1. Org & Appearance Perfect sequence. Intact diagrams. Clean headers. Typed cover. Single PDF. Format good. 1 detail missing. Tape bound. Rough format. Multiple errors. Stapled no bind. Sloppy. Damaged inserts. Poor staple. Absent.
2. Objectives Rephrased own words. Linked to research. Identified. Manual paraphrase. Partial definition. Manual copy. Verbatim copy. Missing content. Absent.
3. Apparatus Listed. Labeled diagrams. Steps own words. Safety photo. Vital items. Paraphrased steps. No photo. Partial list. Confusing steps. Missing equipment. Unusable. Absent.
4. Results (x2) Accurate trends. Tables numbered. Walkthrough examples. Equations used. Correct trends. Minor label gaps. Formulas provided. Missing data. Sloppy tables. Units missed. Bad construction. Unreliable data. Absent.
5. Discussion (x2) Answers all. Links theory. Errors analyzed. Misses one. Gaps in interpretation. Incomplete logic. Shallow depth. Lack understanding. Incorrect comparison. Absent.
6. Conclusion Summarizes data. Validates objectives. Suggestions logic. Missing 1 condition. Missing 2 conditions. Missing 3 conditions. Absent.
7. References >9 sources. Standard format. 30% recent. 6-8 sources. Manual format. 3-5 sources. Partial compliance. 1-2 sources. Format ignored. None.

Lab Report (Softcopy)

Fill the tables, then print to save as PDF.

MEQ491: Mechanics & Materials Lab

Experiment 7: Dependent Motion of Particle


4.0 Theory

Figure 2 Dependent motion analyses

A Distance, s Height, h θ

The relationship of displacement, velocity and acceleration between the hanging weights and block A can be determined using:

ΣF = m a

Velocity and acceleration can be calculated using:

Velocity of block A, vA = s / t
(1.1)
Velocity of weight, vw = h / t
(1.2)
Acceleration of block A, aA = (vA − uA) / t
(1.3)
Acceleration of weight, aw = (vw − uw) / t
(1.4)
Coefficients of kinetic friction, μ = Ff / N
(1.5)

Where: Ff = friction force, N = normal force.

5.0 Procedure

  1. Select suitable inclination angle, θ (15° and 45°).
  2. Add the weights until block A moves upwards.
  3. Pull block A to a starting mark and measure height, h.
  4. Release block A and instantaneously start the stop watch.
  5. Stop the watch once the weight hits the table.
  6. Record the time, distance s, weights and mass of block A.
  7. Repeat the experiment by adding more weight.

6.0 Result

Table 1: Experimental Data

Weight, W (N) Distance, s (m) Time, t (s)
1 2 3 Average 1 2 3 Average
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -

Table 2: Calculation Data

Weight, W (N)
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
Velocity, vA (m/s)
Velocity, vw (m/s)
Acceleration, aA (m/s²)
Acceleration, aw (m/s²)
Coefficients of friction, μ

Note: Table 2 velocities/accelerations are auto-filled from Table 1 using v = s/t and a = v/t (assumes u = 0 if not provided).

7.0 Discussion

i) Draw the free body diagram and kinetic diagram for block A and the weight.

ii) Compare and discuss the result of displacement, velocity and acceleration of block A when a weight is applied to the system at different angles (15° and 45°).

iii) Compare and discuss the result of the coefficients of kinetic friction between block A and a sliding surface using theoretical equation at each angle.

iv) Give your comment or suggest any cause of errors.

8.0 Conclusion

9.0 References

Data Analysis Portal

Enter your simulation results to calculate coefficients.

Calculated Friction

0.00

Final Submission

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