Procedure

1. Check the connection of the Motion Detector to the LabPro box and to the computer. Make note of which ports are used.

2. The Motion Detector is clamped at the top end of the incline. Determine the angle of the incline using trigonometry with measurements of some lengths/distances.

3. Prepare the computer for data collection by opening the LoggerPro software with the "MotionGalileo" experiment. Notice what is being plotted on the graphs and the scaling being used. Scaling of the graphs displayed can be adjusted during the experiment by double clicking and changing the end number on the scale. Adjust the distance scale to roughly the length of your channel.

4. Position a ball about ½ m down the incline from the Motion Detector. and press "Collect" to begin data collection. Release the ball when you hear the Motion Detector start to click. Do this a few times until you have a good representative view into this experiment.

5. Scale your two graphs for the best view of the ball rolling region. Adjust the x-axis scale to be the same for both graphs with the y-axis of each graph adjusted for the best/largest view of the data for that graph. Record in your notebook (by sketching and including important details) the graphs of distance vs. time and velocity vs. time. Identify the region on your graph that corresponds to the ball rolling down the incline.

6. What algebraic curve does the distance vs. time graph appear to follow?
   Try fitting various functions to the portion of the data corresponding to ball rolling region by dragging across that time interval and selecting "Analysis, Automatic Curve Fit" from the menu. Select a function from the scrolling list and click "Try Fit" button. Try several functions leading to the most simple function that fits well.
   Select the function that relates to uniform acceleration theory (a quadratic) for fitting to your data. Record both the equation and the parameters of this fitted equation. Record in your notes a sketch of the graph with the curve fit information.

7. Similarly, does the velocity vs. time graph follow a simple algebraic curve? Using the process above, choose the simplest function that still fits the data well and record the parameters of the fitted equation. Record in your notes the graph with the curve fit information.