The following assignment requires that you access the following website:

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com:8100/legacy/college/halliday/0471320005/simulations6e/index.htm

 

Equations: 

Ball 1 - Constant velocity equation:                

Ball 2 - Constant acceleration equation:          

 

Instructions:

Click on the Constant velocity versus acceleration simulation on the left hand scroll bar to access this simulation.  Listen to the Audio Intro before beginning the simulation. 

 

Two balls are shown on your screen. Both will move to the right when you start the simulation. The upper ball moves with a constant velocity. The lower ball starts from rest, but moves with constant acceleration. You can set the lower ball's acceleration using the slider in the bottom right corner. The simulation stops when one ball reaches the right side of the screen. You must Reset the simulation before it will allow you to begin another.  You must also manually Clear the Trace of the graphs if you do not wish to use the graphs anymore.  Graphs of position and velocity vs. time are shown for each ball.

Begin the simulation with the default value of acceleration (1m/s2).

 

Questions:

1.         What is the velocity of the ball that moves with constant velocity?

 

 

 

2.            How do you know this from the graph of its position versus time graph?  How do you know this from its velocity versus time graph?

 

 

 

 

3.            How far does the accelerating ball travel by the end of the race?

 

 

 

 

 

4.            Calculate the average speed of the accelerating ball.  Show your calculation.

 

 

 

Now change the acceleration to 2.0 m/s2 and rerun the simulation.

 

5.            Calculate the new average speed of the accelerating ball.  Show your calculation.

 

 

 

 

6.            At what time do the two balls have the same velocity during the race?  Which graph gives you this information?

 

 

 

 

7.            How far does the accelerating ball travel by the end of the race?

 

 

 

 

8.            Experiment with the acceleration until you find a value that ends the race in a tie.  Write this value.  Show the calculation that demonstrates why this value works.

 

 

 

 

9.            Determine this average speed of the accelerating ball.  Show your calculation.

 

 

 

 

 

10.         How does this value compare to the speed of the constant velocity ball?

 

 

 

 

 

11.         Describe the position versus time graphs of the two balls in words.

 

 

 

 

 

12.         Describe the velocity versus time graphs of the two balls in words.