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Calculations
Below are some of the equations that you will need to complete the experiment if you are not using a sensor and computer...
Psst!!! If you are stuck on an equation just enter it in here and it will give you the answer!
The Basic Equations
The Symbols
These are the basic equations that you may use on this experiment
This equation is used to calculate velocity (the speed of an object and the direction it is moving in, the displacement, and the time
This equation is used to calculate acceleration
this is used to calculate the final speed of the object or the acceleration or time
this will give you the displacement, the time, and the acceleration
This will tell you the final and initial velocity as well as the acceleration and the displacement
v = the velocity of an object that is not speeding up or slowing down (constant) measured in m/s

d = the displacement or the distance travelled by an object measured in meters.

t = the time in seconds

a = the amount by which the object is speeding up or slowing down (acceleration) measured in m/s/s or m/s^2

Vi = the initial velocity in m/s (for this experiment it is zero)

Vf = the final velocity of an object after it has been accelerated or decelerated
the triangle is the symbol for the Greek letter delta and is used to symbolize a variable that will change often
since we are focusing on the equation we will be using the fourth equation...

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here is a sample equation:

the ball is not moving at the start so the Vi is zero
Vi = 0m/s
lets say the ramp is 1 m
d = 1m
lets say the ball takes a total of 10 seconds to reach the end of the ramp
​t = 10s
we need to find the acceleration
a = ?
Solving
we sub in the numbers (WITH the units!) into the equation

1m = 0m/s(10s) + 1/2 (a)(10s)^2
anything multiplied by zero is zero so we can simplify the equation to:
1m = 1/2 (a)(10s)^2
we then square the 10s (10s*10s)
1m = 1/2 (a) (100s)
we then half and divide by the remaining 50s
1m= (50s) (a)
a = 1m/50s
a = 0.02m/s^2


Keep in mind that you can always use the Wolfram Alpha computational engine (fancy word for a calculator) at the top to solve a tough equation. All you need to do is sub in the known and it will find the unknown value that you need! :)