Equal-accelerated motion

Equal-accelerated motion is a 3D virtual laboratory work on physics (section: Mechanics)

PURPOSE: Simulation of a laboratory work on general physics.

PURPOSE OF THE EXPERIENCE: Measurement of the relationship between the instantaneous velocity and the distance traveled.

DESCRIPTION: In the case of uniform acceleration, the instantaneous velocity increases as the distance traveled increases. The constant of proportionality between the square of velocity and distance traveled can be used to calculate acceleration. This phenomenon is investigated by setting up this experiment using a cart and a rolling track. To measure instantaneous velocity, a flag of known width attached to the cart interrupts the beam of light from a photoelectric sensor. The time during which the beam is interrupted is measured with a digital counter.