The effect of changing the mass of a ball and the angle of a ramp will affect the distance of a

sliding cup
By: Hemil Patel
Lab Partner: Nicholas Prestayko

ABSTRACT
This lab was designed to measure how far the catch cup would travel. We used two different
variables to find how far the catch cup travel. First variable was changing the mass of the object
and second variable was changing the angle of the ramp. The steeper the angle the shorter
distance the cup will slide before coming to rest. As the angle is steeper the ball will bounce on
the ground and the energy would be converted into heat and sound energy. Distance is directly
proportional to mass. The heavier the mass there will be less gravity on the ramp so it will
accelerate faster and move the cup farther, and gradually the energy will be converted to heat and
sound energy.

PURPOSE
Our purpose is to find out whether if when changing mass of the object and changing angle of
the ramp, will have an effect on the distance the catch cup with the ball travels.
APPARATUS
A ruler was used as a ramp to slide down the ball. A meter stick was used to measure how far the
catch cup travels the distance. Books were used to make a slope. A tape was used to connect the
ruler with books.

Figure 1: Diagram of Experimental Setup for the distance the catch cup will travel.
THEORY
Our experiment tested two different variables that we expected to cause an effect on how far the
catch cup the catch cup would travel before coming to rest. We first used four different mass ball
and tested them to check if our hypothesis was correct. Hypothesis 1 states that if the ball has a
larger mass the cup will move farther. This was reinforced by EQ.1
EQ.1

W f =K

Solving for the EQ.1 we get EQ.2

EQ.2

1
m1 gd= m 2 v2
2

Solving for d from EQ.2 we get EQ.3

1
2
Eq.3 d= 2 m2 v / m1 g

Our other hypothesis was if the incline is steeper, the cup will travel less distance. So in
order to prove this we changed the angle the ball was dropped from. This was reflected by
steeper the angle the ball will bounce, the energy is converted to heat and sound energy, which
comes down to a smaller distance travelled.

Figure 2: Forces acting on Catch Cup

PROCEDURE
1. A book is placed on the floor and a ruler is put at an angle such the ball slides down the
ramp. A catch cup is placed at the end of the ruler and metersticks are used to make a path
for the catch cup.
2. We measure the mass of four ball. Four different masses are dropped from a same height
and same angle. The distance the catch cup travelled is measured.
3. We changed an angle gradually moving the ruler further up the book and dropped a ball.
The distance the catch cup traveled for the different angle are measured.
DATA
Trial 1 (cm)
Trial 2 (cm)
Trial 3 (cm)
Glass Ball
19.7
19.6
19.8
Plastic Ball
24.5
24.6
24.4
Small Metal Ball
59.5
60
67
Big Metal Ball
120
124
117
Table 1: Catch cup travel distance due to change of mass

Angle (Degrees)
Trial 1 (cm)
Trial 2 (cm)
Trial 3 (cm)
23
131
126
133.5
25
130.5
123
126
28
117
113
115.5
32
111
108
110
37
88
91
89
Table 2: Catch cup travel distance due to change of Angle

Avg. (cm)
19.7
24.5
62.2
120.3

Avg. (cm)
130.2
126.5
115.2
109.7
89.33

ANALYSIS

Figure 3: Graph of Distance of Catch Cup slide as a function of mass.

Figure 3 shows that graph of Distance of Catch Cup slide as a function of mass is linear with a
constant of proportionality of (1.7 0.1) cm/g. The amount of Distance the cup slide is directly
proportional to change in mass of the object.

Figure 4: Graph of Distance the Catch Cup slide as a function of an Angle

Figure 4 shows that graph of Distance of Catch Cup slide as a function of an Angle is linear with
a constant of proportionality of -2.8 0.3 cm/. The amount of distance the cup slides decreases
with an increase in the angle.
RESULTS
The relationship in the data suggest that the distance is directly proportional to change in mass of
the object and distance decreases when the ramp angle is steeper.
DISCUSSION
I feel like we were successful in completing our task, which was to observe trends in the data we
had collected. Our results do happen to agree with our hypotheses. Our data suggests that
distance is directly proportional to the mass of the ball and that distance decreases as the ramp
angle is steeper. Some of the uncertainty and the errors are the cup move side by side and hit to
the meter stick moving down the floor. We didnt measure the friction as there were lots of
opportunity to measure them. One of the difficulty was that we had and incorrect experiment at
first, since we had changed two variable at once. Next time we need to pay more attention at the
variable first so we dont have to do it all over again. One thing I would improve in this lab is not
let the cup hit the meterstick while moving down the floor.
CONCLUSION
I learned two things from this lab. First the steeper the angle the shorter distance the cup will
slide before coming to rest. As the angle is steeper the ball will bounce on the ground and the
energy would be converted into heat and sound energy. And second thing I learned is distance is
directly proportional to mass. The heavier the mass there will be less gravity on the ramp so it
will accelerate faster and move the cup farther, and gradually the energy will be converted to
heat and sound energy.