Constantly Accelerating, not at a Constant Velocity!

The purpose of this lab was to determine the difference between constant acceleration and constant velocity. Both constant velocity and acceleration are normally misunderstood and therefore it is necessary to achieve a full understanding of the difference. Constant velocity is when an object is moving at uniform speed. The velocity of the object is constant and therefore the object is at equilibrium. The object is covering the same amount of distance per second, assuming that no force is acting against it (eg./friction). Constant acceleration is the opposite of constant velocity. Constant acceleration is when an object is accelerating at an equal speed with time. While constant velocity moves at a uniform speed, constant acceleration increases speed. In the lab we determined constant velocity and acceleration by using two experiments. One of the experiments took place on a flat plain. This allowed the marble to move at a constant velocity once released by the ball thrower. Once the ball begins to move, for every half second, make a mark with a piece of chalk on the table. Record your data keeping in mind that the distance is cumulative! Plot your data into Microsoft excel and plot the data on a scatter chart. Your graph should resemble a straight line. For the second experiment, place two books of equal width, under the two end legs of the table. This will create an inclined plane. For this experiment it is necessary to release the ball on a start line exactly when half a second has passes. Once the ball begins to roll, make a mark with the chalk at every half second point. This experiment will also require accumulative distance for the outcome to be correct. Once you have plotted a scatter chart you should notice a curve in the line. With constant velocity, the ball is covering the same distance per unit of time while constant velocity increases the distance covered per unit of time. In order to calculate the speed of constant acceleration we use the formula V= Acceleration x Time. In order to derive the distance we use the formula D=0.5(Acceleration)(Time)2. To calculate constant velocity we use the formula Speed= Distance/Time. The line for constant velocity is a straight line while the line for constant acceleration is an upward curve. The y-axis of the graph is distance while the x-axis is time. I learned that the equation of a line is; Y=mx+b (b is normally always going to be zero) Distance=(m)(Time) (we get this when substituting our y and x) M=Distance/Time (altering the equation we get this!) It is safe to say that our m in this case represents speed. We were able to derive the speed formula from utilizing the formula of a line. We were also able to create an equation for discovering the distance covered at constant acceleration by using the line equation; Y=mx + b(0) D= (0.5)(Acceleration)(Time)2 (our m in this case is the slope of our line while the x is time) This magical journey through Physics has taught me the combination of math and physics. I have also learned that the line equation was not made to just torture us but to help guide us through other subjects. This lab has also taught me how to incorporate a graph and explain a physics problem using math.