For the first set of trials, the ball was rolled down a plane inclined at 13.4 degrees. At the end of the plane, the ball then fell a height of 40 inches to the ground. The distance from the end of the ramp to the landing site of the ball along the floor was measured.
Distance along ramp | Trial 1 | Trial 2 | Trial3 | Trial 4 | Trial 5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
One Foot | 13 15/16 inches | 13 7/8 inches | 14 1/16 inches | 14 inches | 13 15/16 inches |
Two Feet | 19 13/16 inches | 19 13/16 inches | 19 13/16 inches | 19 3/4 inches | 19 3/4 inches |
Four Feet | 27 11/16 inches | 27 3/4 inches | 27 3/4 inches | 27 9/16 inches | 27 9/16 inches |
Six Feet | 33 3/8 inches | 33 5/16 inches | 33 3/16 inches | 33 7/16 inches | 33 5/8 inches |
For the second set of trials, the ball was rolled down the same plane, inclined at 6.7 degrees, with the same fall.
Distance along ramp | Trial 1 | Trial 2 | Trial3 | Trial 4 | Trial 5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
One Foot | 10 11/6 inches | 10 11/6 inches | 10 11/6 inches | 10 11/6 inches | 10 11/6 inches |
Two Feet | 14 1/2 inches | 14 9/16 inches | 14 1/2 inches | 14 1/2 inches | 14 9/16 inches |
Four Feet | 20 3/4 inches | 20 3/4 inches | 20 3/4 inches | 20 3/4 inches | 20 3/16 inches |
Six Feet | 25 7/16 inches | 25 1/2 inches | 25 3/4 inches | 25 1/2 inches | 25 5/8 inches |
Eight Feet> | 29 5/8 inches | 29 1/2 inches | 29 1/2 inches | 29 5/16 inches | 29 1/2 inches |
Then the ball was rolled six feet down the plane inclined 6.7 degrees, and allowed to fall onto surfaces raised above the ground to trace the path of its fall.
Surface height | Trial 1 | Trial 2 | Trial 3 | Trial 4 | Trial 5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
33 1/2 inches above the ground (allowing a fall of only 6 1/2 inches) | 9 15/16 inches | 9 3/8 inches | 9 3/8 inches | 9 15/16 inches | 9 3/8 inches |
28 1/2 inches off the ground (allowing a fall of 11 1/2 inches) | 17 1/4 inches | 17 1/8 inches | 17 3/16 inches | 17 3/16 inches | 17 1/4 inches |
20 3/4 inches off the ground (allowing a fall of 19 1/4 inches) | 17 1/4 inches | 17 1/8 inches | 17 3/16 inches | 17 3/16 inches | 17 1/4 inches |
10 3/4 inches off the ground (allowing a fall of 29 1/4 inches) | 21 3/4 inches | 21 5/8 inches | 21 11/16 inches | 21 5/8 inches | 21 11/16 inches |
On the ground (with a fall of 40 inches) | 25 3/4 inches | 25 13/16 inches | 25 3/4 inches | 25 11/16 inches | 25 7/8 inches |
Last Revised April 17, 1995.
Martha Turner
mat@rice.edu