Physics Domino effect Lab

Domino Effect Lab Title Objectives

Investigate the ways in which distance, time, and average speed are interrelated by maximizing the speed of falling Dominoes (Or Jenga Pieces).

Master X-Y Graphing Techniques Materials Procedure

Step by Step “Movie Script” Data

Contains measurements and calculations Analysis

“Make sense” of the data Discussion

Talks about the results and how they relate to the objectives Conclusion

Short paragraph explaining the results of the experiment and whether the objectives were achieved.

Introduction Read the Discussion section on Page 5

in the “blue” lab manual

Procedure1. Setup a string of dominos or Jenga Pieces (20-50

pieces long)2. Measure the total length of your row of dominoes. 3. Compute the average distance between dominos.4. Record Time it takes for Dominos to topple.5. Compute the Average Speed of each falling Domino.6. Repeat for nine (9) trials by testing different (near

and far) average distances between each domino.7. Record data to Data Table.8. Represent Data on X-Y Coordinate plane as a Line

Graph.

Analysis: Data TableTrial Length

(cm)Average Spacing (cm)

Time (s) Speed (cm/s)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Analysis: Graph

Average Lengths Between dominos. (cm)

Avera

ge S

peed

(cm

/s)

Average Between Lengths vs. Speed of Topple

Discussion1. What is the definition of average speed?2. What are the factors that affect the speed of falling

dominoes?3. Why do we use average speed rather than

instantaneous speed to describe the rate of dominos falling?

4. From your graph, what is the maximum or minimum toppling speed?

5. What spacing between dominoes do you predict would give the maximum or minimum speed?

What is the ratio of this spacing to the length of a domino?

6. At the maximum or minimum toppling speed, how long a row of dominoes would be required to make a string that takes one minute to fall?

Conclusion Short paragraph explaining the results of

the experiment and whether the objectives were achieved.