Name Date Regents Physics Lab #3R Period Mrs. Nadworny Partners: (1 pt) Circumference vs. Diameter Due Date Purpose To learn the proper method for conducting and analyzing a laboratory experiment. To determine the value of pi. Research Question What is the relationship between the diameter of a circle and its circumference? Variables Independent variable (2 pts) Dependent variable (2 pts) Constants / Controls (2 pts) Mathematical Model (2 pts) Hypothesis (2 pts) Procedure Materials: (3 pts) Create a bullet list of all materials that you expect to use. Diagram of setup: (3 pts) Draw and label a diagram with all equipment and measurable values. 1
Procedure: (9 pts) 1. Gather objects. (number) (shape) 2. Use a to measure the. Record value in table. (measuring device) (property of object) Estimate value to a tenth of a centimeter. 3. Wrap a around the outer surface of the object to (measuring device) measure its. Estimate value to a tenth of a centimeter. (property of object) Record value in table. 4. Repeat for more trials. (number) 5. Create a graph of versus. (dependent variable) (independent variable) Data Collection (30 pts) Trial Object diameter (cm) diameter (m) circumference (cm) circumference (m) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Collect Data 2
Graph (11 pts) Create a graph of your data. 1. Title your graph with an appropriate title. 2. Label each axis with the appropriate variable and unit. 3. Mark an appropriate scale according to your data. 4. Plot each data point. 5. Draw a best fit line. (Equal number of points above and below line) 3
Data Analysis 1. Calculate the slope of your best fit line. Show all calculations with equation, substitution with units, and answer in decimal format. (4 pts) 2. Determine the physics formula that relates to the variables that you graphed. (2 pts) 3. What physical quantity is represented by the slope of the graph and what is its value according to your graph? (2 pts) 4. Calculate a percent error between the slope of your graph and the actual value of pi. Show all calculations with equation, substitution with units, and answer in decimal format with units. (5 pts) Conclusion (20 pts) Use the following to help with your conclusion. It should be included with your lab as three paragraphs using full, complete English sentences. Your conclusion should be typed. If you choose to hand write your conclusion it must be neatly written on lined paper. Paragraph One o Restate the purpose/research question of the lab. (Ex The purpose of this lab was to... ) o Summarize the experiment using only one or two sentences. Do NOT restate the entire procedure. (Ex In this experiment we... ) o Restate your hypothesis. (Ex We hypothesized that... ) o Does your data support your hypothesis or not? (Ex According to our data our hypothesis was correct/incorrect ) o Discuss the results of your lab, including any general trends. (Ex Analysis of our data demonstrates... ) Continued on next page 4
Paragraph Two o What was the physical significance of the slope of the graph and its value? (Ex The physical significance of the slope was ) o Write about one idea that was reinforced during the lab or one new concept you learned. (Ex Ideas that were reinforced during this lab include... OR Concepts we learned during this lab include...) Paragraph Three o Identify one possible source of error in this lab. (Ex A source of error that occurred during this lab includes...) o Explain how it happened. (Ex This error occurred because...) o Explain how it affected your data collection (Ex This led to an increase/decrease in our diameter/circumference). o Explain how it affected your overall results (Ex This led to an increase/decrease in our value of pi). Consider limitations of the environment, equipment or laboratory set up. If your equipment is able to provide you with measurements that are precise enough to determine a reasonable value, it should not be blamed as an error. If considering human error you MUST be specific. Describe the aspect of the human body or mind that limited the ability of appropriate data to be taken. Do not write the words human error anywhere in your conclusion! You should only use reaction time and measurement constraints ONLY when they are applicable and have a significant effect on the data! You should never blame your calculations or graph as an error. REMEMBER If your error is avoidable it does not count as a source of error. IMPORTANT Remove this page from your lab and replace it with your conclusion. Staple all pages together and have it ready to hand in on or before the due date. If you are handing this lab in late, you should indicate this on the front of your lab by your heading. You should either write LATE or if you are handing it in late due to a legal absence (not music lessons, or field trip), please write ABSENT with the dates you were absent. 5