PhysicsLAB: Lab: Rectangle Measurements

Lab
Lab: Rectangle Measurements

In this lab you will be asked to measure the length and width of 8 rectangles. You and your partner will each receive a data paper. Using a centimeter ruler, each of you will measure and record, to two decimal places, the length and width of every rectangle. Remember that the second decimal place will be an estimated digit. Before recording your data in the following data chart, compare your answers. If they are significantly different, re-measure the rectangle. Each column in the table should contain 8 unique values.

rectangle	length	width
measurements	(cm)	(cm)

Is there any physical property (or properties) that all of your rectangles share in common? Explain.

Refer to the following information for the next four questions.

Graph Analysis

Part I: Now go to the filesystem, open your period's folder, and open the EXCEL file entitled 1-rectangles. Immediately rename the file by saving it with the new title Rectangles_LastnameLastname.xls where the two last names are those of you and your lab partner. In the columns provided on the first worksheet (tab) input the data from your data table.

What is the name of your group's EXCEL workbook?

What is the coefficient of restitution, R², for your graph?

What is the shape of the EXCEL graph displayed using your data?

straight linehyperbolaparabolaellipse

According to your EXCEL graph, what is the relationship between the length and width of your rectangles?

directly proportionalinversely proportional

Refer to the following information for the next eight questions.

Data Analysis

Part II: Now complete this following second data table and graph its values on the second worksheet (tab) of your EXCEL workbook.

	1/length	width
rectangle	(1/cm)	(cm)

What is the shape of the EXCEL graph displayed using your second set of modified data?

straight linehyperbolaparabolaellipse

What is the slope of this second graph?

What is its coefficient of restitution, R²?

What are the units on your second graph's slope?

What physical property of your rectangles does this slope represent?