All+aBOARD+the+Incline+Plane!


 * All aBOARD the Incline Plane Lab **

** Primary Author: ** Alli, Kelsey, and Kerry

** Contributing Authors: ** Alli, Kelsey and Kerry

** Goal: ** To determine the relationships between the snow and snowboard.

** Abstract: ** Although it may not be evident, there is physics in every aspect of the sport from just take a quick ride down the hill or embarking on a dangerous half-pipe. In this lab we will figure out mu value, angle of incline plane, kinetic energy and multiple variables affecting acceleration.

** Background information: ** Snowboarding is a sport that focuses on keeping your center of gravity in alignment with the board in order to succeed. Clearly, the forces acting on the rider is gravity, normal and friction between the board and snow.

// Variables: // // -Oil // // -steepness // // -increase in weight //

** Introduction: ** Snowboarding requires numerous aspects of physics to simply get down a hill. When the snowboard goes down the hill, there is friction between the board and snow that creates water. That water is needed for the snowboarde to slide smoothly down the hill. Another key part of snowboarding is balance. While a snowboarder shreds, they must maintain a center of gravity, otherwise they will fall immediately. As a snowboarder takes off down the hill, there are many forces acting upon the boarder and the board itself. When a snowboarder plans to go off a jump, they need to consider how much kinetic energy is required. If the person weighs a considerable amount, they can take the jump at a slower speed than a lighter person would. Also, as the snowboarder travels down the hill, the gravitational potential energy slowly decreases because the height they are at is slowly decreasing. In general, snowboarding has a whole lot to do with the concepts of physics. In our project, we will explore many of these concepts.

** Method: ** Protractor with hanging weight, oil, three-five pound weights, snowboard, stopwatch and tape measure were all materials and tools used in this lab. The protractor was brought to the top of the hill, keeping the string with weight attached was parallel to the ground. Measurements were taken and recorded for later calculations. Proceeding, the tape measure was used to measure incline of hill in sixteen feet increments. The stopwatch was used to record time trials of various runs. A specific mark was made to signal the ceasing of the timing, to assure accuracy. Given the variable of weight, three-five pound weights were attached to the subject. Also, a single coat of oil was evenly applied to the base of the snowboard. No carving or change in direction was performed by the snowboarder while recording results. Rather, the snowboarder followed a single straight path and kept a uniform upright position throughout all trials. Three runs were performed for each variable in order to acquire sufficient data. This carefully planned method assured accurate results.

** Results: **

** Conclusion: **

Through various calculations we ended up with many results. We calculated the height of the 38° hill to be 30.03 meters tall and the 29° hill to be 23.64 meters tall. We calculated average acceleration using the equation: vf=vo+at (vo=0, vf=velocity found). We also found average fnet values for all our trials using the equation: m *a. We also found the force of gravity on each of the hills as well as normal forces. Force of friction for the various trials were found by calculating (fgravity-fnet). We then proceeded to find the mu values using the equation: (Ffriction/(9.8 * mass )). We then found initial potential energy using the equation: PEi= MGH. Next we found final kinetic energy for each of the trials by using the equation: (.5m v^2). Finally we found the work done by friction using the equation: (PEi –KEf).

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 * Cool Movie Summary of our Project!**