physics WORKSHEET Pre-Lab 2
Consider an experiment where a marble is rolling between sensors for a computer controlled
timer called a photogate. The sensor measures the time the photogate is blocked as the
diameter of the marble passes by. You have measured the following quantities to determine
the speed (v) of a marble rolling in front of a photogate. The uncertainty in time is estimated
from the spread in values of several trials, and the size of the marble is known with a
manufacturer specification on the uncertainty.
tblocked=(0.024±0.002)s and d=(2.54±0.01)cm
Determine the following, showing your work below neatly for each
%σt %σd %σv σv and v.
These quantities mean: percent uncertainties in time blocked, diameter of marble, speed of
marble respectively. Then the absolute uncertainty in the speed of marble, and finally the
speed of the marble itself.
Your final reporting of the speed should look like (with numbers)
v=________±_______cm/s