Day 32: More Work on the Procedure

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Today the team tested out whether placing the four sided meter stick flat on the ground would affect any of the measurements in Pasco Capstone. We did around eight trials with the meter stick is lying flat on the ground. All procedures were kept the same as always, but it was just the meter stick we positioned differently. If the data collected from these trials are accurate, we will rewrite the procedure instructing students to lay the four sided meter stick on the floor, making sure that the meter stick is placed on a line of tile. We wanted to change this part of the procedure because it was confusing many of the students who tested out the experiment. Hopefully by making the steps shorter, it could also make it easier to understand.

Once all trials were captured, we then analyzed them using Pasco Capstone such as any other time before. For example, the data for the ping pong ball is shown below.

Figure 1: Ping Pong Ball With Horizontal Meter Stick

Other trials were done with the golf and steel ball. We then compared the accelerations found today with those from previous trials. Ultimately, we found negligible difference from acceleration values found when using a vertical standing meter stick opposed to the horizontally position meter stick. 

In conclusion, we will change the procedures slightly to replace steps on setting up the meter stick and include positioning the meter stick horizontally and along a tile line.

We also continued to work with Professor Balzarette on the friction surface design. Hopefully in the next two weeks, we will get a proof of concept made. As of now, the team must decide on how to attach the new acrylic surface plate onto the friction apparatus. The current options include: Velcro, double sided tape, countersink screws, and clips.

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