Factors

Affecting
Acceleration
Name: Sara Mohamed
Class: MYP 4B
Key Concept: relation ships
Global Context: Orientation in space and time
Background research
Difference between Kinematics and Dynamics
Kinematics is a subfield of mechanics concerned with the geometrically motion of a
body without consideration of the forces. (Britannica, n.d.)
Dynamics, is a subfield of mechanics that is concerned with the motion of a body in
relation to the physical factors that affect them: force, mass, momentum, energy. (The
Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, n.d.)

Acceleration
Acceleration is the rate of velocity changing through time. According to the SI
units, acceleration is measured in (m/s2). It is a vector quantity that requires a
direction and a magnitude.
a = Δv/Δt
There are two main types of acceleration: Uniform acceleration (regular
acceleration) and non-uniform acceleration (irregular acceleration)
• Non-uniform acceleration: Body travelling with equal rate of
increasing/decreasing in velocity but at unequal time intervals, or body
travelling with unequal rate of increasing/decreasing in velocity but at equal
time intervals.
• Uniform acceleration: Body travelling in a straight line with equal rate of
increasing/decreasing in velocity at equal time intervals, it could be also
known as regular acceleration.
Dynamic factors affecting acceleration:
According to Newton’s second law of motion, net force acting on the object and
the object’s mass affect acceleration. The law states that acceleration equals the net
force divided by the mass.
• Net force applied: The greater the net force applied on an object, the
greater its acceleration. There is a direct relation between the force applied
on the object and its acceleration.
• Object’s mass: The greater the object’s mass, the less its acceleration when
a force is applied on it. There is an inverse relation between the object’s
mass and its acceleration. (Newton's Second Law, n.d.)
Kinematic factors affecting acceleration
Velocity: According to the equation a = Δv/Δt, acceleration is directly
proportional to the change of velocity within a certain period of time. The higher
change of velocity of an object, the higher its acceleration and vice versa.
Time: According to the equation a = Δv/Δt, acceleration is inversely proportional
to the change of time for a fixed change in velocity. The higher change of time, the
lower acceleration and vice versa
Displacement: In case of av=Δx/Δt is not constant within a certain period of time;
i.e., v is not constant, then change of velocity is directly proportional to the change
of displacement. Therefore, acceleration is directly proportional to the change of
displacement within a certain period of time. The higher change in displacement
the higher acceleration and vice versa.
The incline plane: As the incline of the plane increases, the acceleration increases
and vice versa. Acceleration is directly proportional to the incline of the plane.
(Galileo's Inclined Plane | NOVA, n.d.)

Problem
A bike is moving down from a hill of angle of inclination of 50o while another bike
is moving down from a hill of angle of inclination of 70o, which bike would have
a higher rate of acceleration?
Hypothesis
According to Galileo Galilei, as the degree of inclination of a plane increase, the
acceleration increases and vice versa. Acceleration is directly proportional to the
degree of inclination of a plane. (Galileo's Inclined Plane | NOVA, n.d.)
For instance, if a ball is going from an inclined surface with an angle of 60 o would
accelerate more than a ball going from an inclined surface with a degree of 45 o.
When a bike is moving down from a hill of angle of inclination of 50o and another
bike is moving down from a hill of angle of inclination of 70o, the bike moving
from a hill of angle of inclination 70o would have the higher rate of acceleration.
An experiment would be done to test the validity of the hypothesis. A ramp will be
put on 5 different angles and a body will roll on it. The time of rolling of the body
on the ramp will be measured and then the acceleration will be found out using
equations.
Variables
Depended Independed Controlled
Acceleration Incline of a plane Displacement
Time
Velocity

Depended:
• Acceleration: The acceleration would depend on the angle of inclination of
the plane, the higher angle of inclination the higher acceleration.
• Velocity: Velocity depends on the angle of inclination of a plane, the higher
angle of inclination, the higher the object’s velocity.
• Time: Time depends on the angle of inclination of a plane, the higher angle
of inclination, the less time an object reaches.
Independed:
• Incline of a plane: The degree of inclination of a plane affects the time and
velocity of the object which affect the acceleration.
Controlled:
• Displacement: The length of the inclined plane would be controlled at 140
cm and its height will be changed to different angles.
Angle 1

Trial Time Avg. Change in Acceleration

Angle 2

Trial Time Avg. Change in Acceleration

Trial Time Avg. Change in Acceleration

Angle 4

Trial Time Avg. Change in Acceleration

Trial Time Avg. Change in Acceleration

Angle

Acceleration in Trial 1

Acceleration in Trial 2

Acceleration in Trial 3

Acceleration in Trial 4

Acceleration in Trial 5

Avg. Acceleration
Angle Avg. acceleration
 Experiment

Purpose: To observe the effect of the slope of an incline on the acceleration of an

Materials:

• A cardboard of 133cm; that will act as a ramp that the body will roll on.
• A bead; the body that will roll on the cardboard.
• Stop watch; the tool that will be used to measure the time that the bead
would take to roll the cardboard.
• Measuring tape; to measure the heights that a ramp will be put on.
• Calculator; to calculate the heights that the ramp will be put on.
• Pillow; to stop the bead from moving when reaching the end of the ramp.
Safety:
No safety precautions required.
Method:
• 5 different angles will be determined (10o, 20o, 30o, 40o, 50o)
• The heights the cardboard will be put on will be found using the
trigonometry equation sin θ=(opp/hyp). (A calculator would be used to
find out the answers).
Angle 10o
• The cardboard will be put on a height of 23 cm to get the angle 10o. To
make sure of the measurements θ=sin-1(hyp/opp) would be done using
the calculator.
• The bead will be placed on the top of the cardboard and held by the tip of
the figure.
• By putting off the bead, the stop watch will be turned on.
• By reaching the end of the cardboard and hitting the pillow, the stop
watch will be turned off.
• The steps will be repeated 5 times to make sure of the results.
Angle 20o
• The cardboard will be put on a height of 45 cm to get the angle 20o.
• The bead will be placed on the top of the cardboard and held by the tip of
the figure.
• By putting off the bead, the stop watch will be turned on.
• By reaching the end of the cardboard and hitting the pillow, the stop
watch will be turned off.
• The steps will be repeated 5 times to make sure of the results.
Angle 30o
• The cardboard will be put on a height of 66.5 cm to get the angle of 30o.
• The bead will be placed on the top of the cardboard and held by the tip of
the figure.
• By putting off the bead, the stop watch will be turned on.
• By reaching the end of the cardboard and hitting the pillow, the stop
watch will be turned off.
• The steps will be repeated 5 times to make sure of the results.
Angle 40o
• The cardboard will then be put on a height of 85 cm to get the angle of
40o.
• The bead will be placed on the top of the cardboard and held by the tip of
the figure.
• By putting off the bead, the stop watch will be turned on.
• By reaching the end of the cardboard and hitting the pillow, the stop
watch will be turned off.
• The steps will be repeated 5 times to make sure of the results.

Angle 50o
• The cardboard will be put on a height of 102 cm to get the angle of 50o.
• The bead will be placed on the top of the cardboard and held by the tip of
the figure.
• By putting off the bead, the stop watch will be turned on.
 • By reaching the end of the cardboard and hitting the pillow, the stop
watch will be turned off.
• The steps will be repeated 5 times to make sure of the results.

Collecting data
Angle 10o
Trial Time Avg. Change in Acceleration
No. Velocity velocity

1 1.1 sec 1.2 m/s 2.4 m/s 2.18 m/s2

2 1.32 sec 1 m/s 2 m/s 1.52 m/s2

3 1.32 sec 1 m/s 2 m/s 1.52 m/s2

4 1.19 sec 1.12 m/s 2.24 m/s 1.88 m/s2

5 1.13 sec 1.13 m/s 2.26 m/s 2 m/s2

Trial Time Avg. Change in Acceleration

1 0.95 sec 1.4 m/s 2.8 m/s 2.95 m/s2

2 1 sec 1.33 m/s 2.66 m/s 2.66 m/s2

3 0.89 sec 1.49 m/s 2.98 m/s 3.35 m/s2

4 0.99 sec 1.34 m/s 2.68 m/s 2.7 m/s2

5 0.89 sec 1.49 m/s 2.98 m/s 3.35 m/s2

Angle 30o

Trial Time Avg. Change in Acceleration

1 0.77 sec 1.73 m/s 2.74 m/s 3.56 m/s2

2 0.81 sec 1.64 m/s 3.28 m/s 4.05 m/s2

3 0.73 sec 1.82 m/s 3.64 m/s 4.5 m/s2

4 0.79 sec 1.68 m/s 3.36 m/s 4.25 m/s2

5 0.8 sec 1.6625 m/s 3.325 m/s 4.16 m/s2

Trial Time Avg. Change in Acceleration

1 0.63 sec 2.11 m/s 4.22 m/s 6.7 m/s2

2 0.68 sec 1.955 m/s 3.91 m/s 5.75 m/s2

3 0.71 sec 1.87 m/s 3.74 m/s 5.27 m/s2

4 0.67 sec 1.985 m/s 3.97 m/s 5.925 m/s2

5 0.72 sec 1.85 m/s 3.7 m/s 5.14 m/s2

Angle 50o

Trial Time Avg. Change in Acceleration

1 0.56 sec 2.375 m/s 4.75 m/s 8.48 m/s2

2 0.59 sec 2.25 m/s 4.5 m/s 7.63 m/s2

3 0.61 sec 2.18 m/s 4.36 m/s 7.15 m/s2

4 0.63 sec 2.11 m/s 4.22 m/s 6.7 m/s2

5 0.59 sec 2.25 m/s 4.50 m/s 7.63 m/s2

Acceleration in Trial 1 2.18 m/s2 2.95 m/s2 3.56 m/s2 6.7 m/s2 8.48 m/s2

Acceleration in Trial 2 1.52 m/s2 2.66 m/s2 4.05 m/s2 5.75 m/s2 7.63 m/s2

Acceleration in Trial 3 1.52 m/s2 3.35 m/s2 4.5 m/s2 5.27 m/s2 7.15 m/s2

Acceleration in Trial 4 1.88 m/s2 2.7 m/s2 4.25 m/s2 5.925 m/s2 6.7 m/s2

Acceleration in Trial 5 2 m/s2 3.35 m/s2 4.16 m/s2 5.14 m/s2 7.63 m/s2

Avg. Acceleration 1.82 m/s2 3.002 m/s2 4.39 m/s2 5.757 m/s2 7.518 m/s2

Angle Avg. acceleration

10o 1.82 m/s2

20o 3.002 m/s2

30o 4.39 m/s2

40o 5.757 m/s2

50o 7.518 m/s2

acc.
7.523
8
7
5.757
6
5 4.39
acceleration

4 3.008
3 acc.
1.84
2
1
0
10 20 30 40 50
angle

Interpreting data
Initial velocity is always 0 (vi=0) as in all experiments the bead was moving from
the rest point. The velocity increased gradually from 0 to vf at the end of the ramp.
Average velocity is half the summation of vi and vf. (av= (vi+vf)/2) as it equals
ramp length/time (Δx/Δt).
Hence, vf = 2av-vi
Vi=0
Vf = 2av
Change in velocity = vf-vi i.e., Δv =vf.
Therefore, acceleration could be determined by the relation a = Δv/Δt.
Evaluating hypothesis
The hypothesis states that: as the degree of inclination of a plane increase, the
acceleration increases and vice versa. Acceleration is directly proportional to the
degree of inclination of a plane.
When the bead rolled from an angle of inclination of 10o the acceleration was 1.82
m/s2, when it rolled from 20o the acceleration was 3.002 m/s2. The acceleration
was 4.39 m/s2 when the ramp was at a degree of 30o and 5.757 m/s2 at 40o.
Acceleration reached its highest rate at 50o as the acceleration was 7.518 m/s2
The results prove that the hypothesis is right, the acceleration of the object
increased as the angle of inclination increased.
Evaluating method
The bead acted as the moving body and the cardboard acted as a ramp. A
measuring tape was used to measure the different heights that the cardboard will
be put on.
The bead was held by the tip of the figure and the stop watch was turned on by
leaving the bead to roll the ramp. A pillow was put to stop the bead when it
reaches the end of the ramp. As the bead reached the end the stop watch stopped.
The steps were done 5 times for each angle from the 5 different angles (10o, 20o,
30o, 40o, 50o) to make sure of the results.
Improvements
• A motion sensor would be used rather than the stop watch to ger more
accurate records of time that mainly affects the accuracy of the final results.
• More trials could be done for each angle to get more accurate results.
• Other equation for finding out the acceleration would be used to get more
accurate results and save much time i.e., a=g×sinθ
• A protractor would be used to make sure of the measures of the angles after
finding out the heights with the equation