Investigating the Relationship Between the Angle of Inclination and the Acceleration of a Cart on a Ramp

This investigation explores how the angle of inclination affects the acceleration of a toy cart on a ramp, hypothesizing a direct proportionality between acceleration and the sine of the angle.

The methodology involves primary data collection using a Vernier Motion Detector and LabQuest stream to generate velocity-time graphs for angles ranging from 5° to 25°. The student determines acceleration from the slopes of these graphs and calculates an experimental value for gravity (g_exp = 10.94 ± 0.79 m/s²).

The paper is distinguished by its rigorous propagation of uncertainty, a detailed analysis of systematic errors—such as release technique and measurement inaccuracies—and a clear linear regression analysis to validate the theoretical model.