A.

Purpose of the experiment

The purpose of this experiment was to figure out the relationship between the position (meters)
and time (seconds) and the velocity (m/s) and time of a fan cart, keeping the time elapsed, 5
seconds, car, surface, and motion sensor constant. In our experiment time was our independent
variable, and distance and velocity were our dependent variable. We hypothesized that the fastest
the fan cart could be moving after 5 seconds would be .5m/s, and the distance traveled after 5
seconds would be 2 meters. To test our hypothesis, we set up a motion sensor, which was
connected to our computer, then placed the fan cart directly in front of the sensor, started the fan
cart and the timer at the same time, and then stopped the timer once 5 seconds was up. Our
program graphed data points of position and velocity every twentieth of a second, and then put
those data points into a velocity time graph and position time graph. After LoggerPro graphed our
data, we had to bracket our data to get rid of the noise in our trend line, which was caused by the
motion sensor losing track of our fan cart. After formatting our data, we found that the position
time graph depicted a quadratic trend between points with the equation being p(m) = 0.12(m/s 2)t2
+ 0.17(m/s)t + 0.2345(m). T represented the time, measured in seconds, and p represented
position, measured in meters. 12(m/s2) represented half the acceleration, .17 (m/s) represented
the starting velocity, and 0.2345(m) represented the starting position of the fan cart. Looking at
our results, we see that as the time increases, the position increases at a slowly increasing rate.
The velocity time graph depicted a linear trend between points with the equation for the line being
v(m/s) = 0.24(m/s2)t + 0.19(m/s). 0.24 represented the rate of acceleration (m/s 2) after each
second, and 0.19 represented the starting velocity (m/s). T represented the time, measured in
seconds, and v represented velocity, measured in meters per second.

State succinctly what question you tried to answer. If you tested a specific hypothesis, you must
include the hypothesis along with your rationale. You should be specific as to what variables you
examined. The purpose is on the order of 1 to 3 sentences.
B. Statement of methods
Briefly describe your methodology. Touch upon specific key details that allow the reader to
understand how you conducted your investigation. You should NOT describe every step of the
experiment. Focus on the key decisions you had to make that might have differed from another
group. This section is usually 2 to 3 sentences.
C. Results
Summarize your most meaningful results. Do not include all data, but report important
quantitative findings or the overall qualitative findings. This includes a description of any patterns
you found in your data as well as any equations you developed (including meaningful variables
and units on constants and coefficients) that model those patterns. Include some error analysis
using specific 'cause' and 'effect' language. This section is usually 2 to 3 sentences.

D. Conclusions and Significance

Explain what the results mean, and refer to your error analysis to discuss the significance of your
results. Apply meaning to constants and coefficients in your trendline equations. Refer directly to
both the purpose/hypothesis/research question of the experiment and to the results. Your
conclusion should answer your original research question, or at least explain why your question
could not be answered. Discuss how well your equation fits your data. This section is usually 2-4
sentences.