If you only have a small strip of tape then cut along the dots. Each dot was produced 1/50 s after the one before it.
This means the tape's velocity (and the velocity of the falling weight)
= (distance of tape in m) / (1/50)
If you measure the distance (x) in cm then v = (x/100) / (1/50) = (x/100) x 50 = 0.5x
What to do
Measure the distance of the first strip you have in cm. Divide this by 2 to get the velocity in m/s
Measure the distance of the last strip you have in cm. Divide this by 2 to get the velocity in m/s
work out the velocity change.
Count the nuber of strips you have. Each strip represents 1/50s. So the time taken for the velocty change you have calculated is (number of strips /50) s.
Now divide the velocty change calculated by the number of strips. Multiply your answer by 50 to ge the acceleration.
To work
