Question

The table below indicates the velocity of a marble as it is released down three ramps with different angles. The same marble was used for each test.

Time (seconds) 20 degrees 30 degrees 40 degrees
0.5 1.5 m/s 1.7 m/s 1.8 m/s
1.0 2.9 m/s 3.3 m/s 3.5 m/s
1.5 4.3 m/s 4.9 m/s 5.1 m/s
What does the table suggest about the acceleration of the marble and why?

a) The acceleration is the same for all three ramps because the initial velocities are equal.
b) The acceleration increases as the ramp angle increases due to gravity's influence.
c) The acceleration decreases as the ramp angle increases due to air resistance.
d) The acceleration remains constant regardless of the ramp angle.

Answer 1

The acceleration of the marble increases with the ramp angle due to the influence of gravity, making option (b) the correct choice.

Step-by-step explanation:

The table suggests that the acceleration of the marble increases as the angle of the ramp increases. This is evident because the velocities at each given time interval increase with the angle of inclination. This change in acceleration is due to gravity's influence on the marble as it moves down the ramps with different angles.

Option (b), The acceleration increases as the ramp angle increases due to gravity's influence, is the correct answer. It captures the notion that the component of gravitational acceleration along the ramp's surface increases with the angle, resulting in higher acceleration for steeper ramps.