Initial Velocity Lab Experiment

To compare the initial velocity of an object rolling off the edge of a table versus the initial velocity of an object rolling off at a diagonal to the edge of a table.

Hypothesis:
The hypothesis is that the ideal and experimental values for vB should be approximately the same, as the initial velocity of the marble falling off the ramp and off the lab bench should be the same, as long as no additional forces are applied. Although, knowing that experimental error is inevitable, the hypothesis is that the experimental value for vB will deviate slightly from the ideal vB calculated. Furthermore, the hypothesis is that the ideal values for both scenarios 1 and 2 should be the exact same, as they are both calculated using the dimensions and angle

To begin with, there was friction between the marble and the wooden ramp, as the ramp was not very smooth, causing the marble’s velocity to decrease as the friction opposed the motion of the marble down the ramp. As a result, the initial velocity (vB) calculated using the test results would be slightly lower than the ideal value of vB, as the slightly lowered velocity would have caused teh marble to fall slightly closer to the lab bench. So since the horizontal displacement of the marble (dx ) decreased, this would have caused the initial velocity (vB) to decrease as well, because the vBx calculated using the slightly lower dx value would have also been slightly lower. Also, although the same person was used to release the marble down the ramp, it is possible that during some trials, the person responsible released the marble with an extra force on the marble, thus causing the initial velocity of the ramp to increase. All of the above have impacted the experimental values for vB in scenario 1 and 2, as these uncertainties impacted the horizontal displacement of the ball (dx ) as the ball fell off of the ramp. Therefore, in this case where the initial velocity has been slightly increased, the horizontal displacement of the ball would have increased slightly as well, causing the calculations to become less accurate in comparison to the ideal values of vB, which would have been slightly lower. Furthermore, in scenario 1, where the marble rolled off the ramp and onto the lab bench horizontally, before falling off the lab bench, the transition of the marble from the ramp to the lab bench caused a slight change in the velocity of the marble. When the marble bounced onto the lab bench from the ramp, it caused the