Marble Lab Results


The purpose of this lab was to have students use the horizontal projectile motion equations in order to calculate the velocity of a marble rolled off a table.  A cardboard ramp or rubber band was used to give the marble initial velocity.  Students did three trials at two different speeds.  The distance the marble traveled (x), the time in the air (t), and the height of the table (y) were measured and recorded.  These were the experimental values.  The accepted value for time was calculated using y = 1/2gt2 and percent error for time was calculated.  The velocity of the marble was calculated using x = vt.  The experimental and accepted values of t were plugged into the equation and percent error for velocity was calculated.