Velocity

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Without Weight
D (cm) t1 (sec) t2 (sec) t3 (sec) t4 (sec) t5 (sec) tavg (sec) vavg = D/tavg (cm/sec)
0.5              
1.0              
2.5              
5.0              
10.0              

Sample Graph of vavg vs D

 

Also calculate the uncertainty δt for only the case with the longest D. Use table below.

D (cm) t (sec) (use results of above table) |tavg - t|
10.0 t1 |tavg - t1|
t2 |tavg - t2|
t3 |tavg - t3|
t4 |tavg - t4|
t5 |tavg - t5|
tavg = ... δt = ...

 

Repeat the experiment with an added weight on glider.

 

                 5. Find the uncertainty  δvavg  in the average velocity only for your longest D (of 10 cm). To do this you will need:

a.   δvavg = δD/tavg   +  (D δt)/(tavg)2

b.   tavg and δt   (from the table above)

c.   δD = √2 RE  = √2 x 0.5 x 0.1 cm

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EXTRA CREDIT: Why is there a √2 in the formula   δD = √2 RE ?

Hint: think of how the error propagates when two numbers (each of which has its own error) are added or subtracted.