Experiment 2: Kinematics of Human Motion
Laboratory Report
Christiana Sanchez, Jaime Carlo Santiago, Eunice Moira Sese, Fiona Ysobelle Simeon
Department of Math and Physics
College of Science, University of Santo Tomas
Espana, Manila, Philippines
Abstract
This experiment uses various
measuring devices in order to determine
the displacement versus time graphs,
velocity versus time graphs for uniform
motion and uniformly accelerated motion,
which also have linear regression and
lastly one’s normal reaction time versus
his reaction time while distracted when
using his or her cellular phone to play
games or call. The group obtained: slope
and y-intercept of 0.7206 m/s; 0.5117 m, -
0.6477 m/s; 3.333 m, 2.353 m/s; -2.55
from the graphs in activity 1. In activity 2
the group record a slope and y-intercept of
0.01 m/s; 1.5 m and -0.66 m/s; 1.3384 m.
In activity 3, The graphical analysis of
motion, the group obtained a total
displacement ranging from 1.465 m-9.125
m, average velocity ranging from 0.8900
m/s-1.1190 m/s, and instantaneous velocity
ranging from 2.23 m/s-1.785 m/s. In the
last activity 4, the group recorded a
reaction time ranging from 0.16303 sec-
2707 sec and reaction time(s) while
calling ranging from 0.2067 sec- 0.3800
sec based from the result of the
measurement in activity 4.
1. Introduction
Kinematics deals with the concepts
that are needed to describe motion,
without reference to the forces that caused
the motion. The first step in order to
describe the motion of an object, is to be
able to locate the object first and then
measure its displacement which show both
magnitude and direction. This
measurement is an important measurement
because it enables the group to look for
other measurements like
velocity,acceleration etc.Measurement is
used everyday in life plays a very
important role in our lives. For example,
when putting gas in a car, the amount of
money you pay is proportionate to the
amount of gas you will receive.
Measurement is used to determine the size,
length, the amount of an object, or even
amount of time for a moving object in
order to get its velocity. There are several
tools used for measuring such as the meter
stick, timer, Vernier Logger Pro, etc.
For this experiment, the group only
used 3 measuring tools namely the meter
stick, timer and Vernier Logger Pro. A
meter stick is a ruler that is one meter
long and is marked off in centimeter and
millimeter in length. This is a strip of
straight edge wood which is used for
drawing lines and measuring lengths.
Timer is a simple measuring device that is
used to measure the amount of time or an
interval of time. Vernier Logger Pro is a
graphical analysis software that is used to The formula in calculating the reaction
collect, graph and manipulate data with time is:
certain sensors that can detect the
measurement of a moving object and 2ℎ
RT = √ 𝑉
position as well. Therefore, this instrument
can measure position and velocity. By the
end of this experiment, the group must be Where:
able to (1) to draw the displacement versus h = the measure (height) of the
time graphs and velocity versus time distance the ruler (meter stick) fell
graphs for uniform motion and uniformly and was caught
accelerated motion so as to (2) determine g = acceleration of gravity
one’s normal reaction time and his RT = calculated reaction time
reaction time while using his cell phone.
This formula was derived from the free fall
2. Theory kinematics equations mentioned,
specifically from the derivation of:
A free-falling object is called so
1
when it is being acted upon only by the d =2at2
force of gravity. Therefore, the object is in
a state of free fall. The falling object will Where the acceleration (a) is equivalent to
then be influenced by the downward the gravity (g) which is 9.80 m/s2.
acceleration of 9.80 m/s2.
Velocity, which is a vector
An object that is in a state of free quantity, measures how fast an object
fall can be described by these four moves from one position to another with
kinematic equations that is related with respect to a frame of reference. In this
motion. experiment, average velocity and
(1) d = vi + at2 instantaneous velocity of human
(2) vf = vo + at kinematics have been computed. Average
(3) vf2 = vi2 + 2ad velocity is defined as displacement over
𝑉𝑉 +𝑉𝑉
(4) d = t time with the formula:
2

Where:
d = displacement
vf = final velocity Where:
vi = initial velocity
vavg= average velocity (m/s)
t = time
a = acceleration of the object vi = the initial velocity (m/s)
vf = the final velocity (m/s)
Reaction time refers to the amount
of time that takes place when a stimulus is On the other hand, instantaneous
perceived and an organism responds to it. velocity is defined as the change in
distance over the change in time. It also
refers to the velocity of an object in Activity 1:
motion at a specific point in time. It can be Fig. 1 Displacement vs. Time and
computed with the formula: Velocity vs. Time graph (moving away
with constant velocity)

Where:

= instantaneous velocity (m/s)

= vector change in position (m)
Δt = change in time (s)

= derivative of vector position Fig 2. Displacement vs. Time and

Velocity vs. Time Graph (Moving
with respect to time (m/s)
towards with constant velocity)

3. Methodology

In this experiment, the materials

used are meter stick, timer, and Vernier
Logger Pro.

The graphs from the first activity

were illustrated. In the second activity, the
Vernier Logger Pro with motion sensors
was used to recreate the ideal graph with
Fig 3. Displacement vs. Time and
the use of a board to match the two. In the
Velocity vs. Time (moving away with
third activity, the meter stick was used to
increasing velocity)
determine the measurement of the distance
travelled by a group member in every
second up to 10 seconds using the timer.
Afterwhich, the data gathered were then
used to compute for the average velocity
and instantaneous velocity. In the fourth
activity, the meter stick was used to get the
height of the position it was caught from
the 50cm mark. The data gathered was
used to compute for the reaction time of a
member and another trial was made while
distracting the member. Activity 2:
4. Results and Discussion Fig 4. Displacement vs. Time Graph
 Fig 7. Reaction Time of each member
Student Reaction Reaction
Time (s) Time while
Calling (s)

Santiago 0.24s 0.38s

Sese 0.27s 0.36s

Fig 5. Velocity vs. Time Graph
Simeon 0.16s 0.20s

Sanchez 0.20s 0.23s

4. Discussion

As seen in fig. 1, a person moving

away from a starting point with the
Activity 3: constant velocity exhibits an upward slope
Fig 6. Total Displacement, Average in the displacement vs. Time graph. Thus,
Velocity and Instantaneous Velocity at if the person moves at a constant velocity,
each second the acceleration is also constant. In fig. 2, a
Time Total Averag Instant person moving towards the starting point
Displac e aneous shows a downward slope in the distance
ement Velocit Velocit vs.time graph. Since the person is
y y approaching the starting point but still
1 0.89 m 0.89m/s 1.78 m/s moving at constant velocity then the
acceleration is still constant. In the
2 1.855 m 0.9275 1.855 previous figures, a person was moving
m/s m/s away or toward the starting point at
3 3.215 m 1.07 m/s 2.14 m/s constant velocity which results with a
constant acceleration and an upward or
4 4.445 m 1.111 2.22 m/s downward slope. However, in fig. 3, a
m/s person is moving away with increasing
5 5.595 m 1.119 2.238 acceleration which would then exhibit a
m/s m/s linear upward slope for velocity vs. time
graph and an upward curved slope for
6 6.59 m 1.10 m/s 2.20 m/s distance vs. time graph.
7 7.5 m 1.07 m/s 2.14 m/s
In Activity 2, the group was tasked
8 8.25 m 1.03 m/s 2.06 m/s to assign a member to hold a board in front
8.91 m 0.99 m/s 1.98 m/s of the motion sensors of the Vernier
9
Logger Pro and maintain a constant
10 9.55 m 0.96 m/s 1.92 m/s velocity to match the graph that was
shown on the screen. The red line
Activity 4: represent the movement of the member
while the black line is the given graph. In
fig. 4, the member was able to replicate the
given graph by moving away from the
sensor which causes an upward slant that
copies then staying in place to create the
horizontal line then finally the member
moved towards the sensor with constant
velocity to create the downward slope of
the graph. In fig. 5, a different member
was tasked to recreate a different given
graph. The member stayed in place to
recreate all of the horizontal lines seen on
the graph, however, trying to replicate the
vertical lines in the graph was difficult
because it would imply that the member
would have to move away or move toward
the sensor instantly. So the outcome of the
red lines would always show a small
incline or decline whenever the member
tried to move.
In Activity 3, A member was
tasked to walk for ten seconds while
another marked the distance the first
member covered in every second. In fig. 6,
it shows the values that were calculated for
Average velocity and instantaneous
velocity. It can be seen that at first, the
values showed an increasing trend which
implicates that the member was moving
with increased velocity but on the 6th
second and onwards, the values have
started to go down which would imply that
the member slowed down. It can observed
that the values of average velocity and
instantaneous velocity are similar. This is
expected because the average velocity is
the total displacement during a period a
period of time. So when total displacement
increases so does the average velocity and
when the average velocity is multiplied by
two then we get the instantaneous velocity.
In Activity 4, the results seen in
fig. 7 are the varying reaction times of
each member when the are and aren’t
distracted. This activity was executed by
dropping a meter stick and allowing the
member to catch the meter stick as fast as
possible. It can be observed that the
reaction time when the members were
distracted were higher than when they
2𝑉
weren’t. The formula used was t = √ .
𝑉
Where d is equal to the distance the meter
stick was dropped and g is the acceleration
of gravity.
5. Conclusion
This experiment dealt with
quantities which may be encountered in
the study of Kinematics, including - but
not limited to - displacement, velocity,
time and acceleration. In the experiment, it
was revealed how these quantities relate to
one another through the use of graphical
analysis. In addition to the advantage of
being able to easily convey information,
graphing quantities allows for the
manipulation of variables in the context of
linear equations. For instance, given a
velocity versus time graph, one can
determine the average acceleration simply
by computing for the slope of the line.
Displacement versus time and
velocity versus time graphs of human
motion were drawn for this particular
experiment, displaying various trends
shown in the previous sections. Total
displacement, average velocity, and
instantaneous velocity of a person walking
in a straight line for a set amount of time
were obtained.
Reaction time was computed for
given two known values of height and
acceleration. Through these, the
experiment has shown the various ways in
which the study of kinematics represents
data from actual events and how it subjects
this data to further analysis to yield
information.

6. Applications

1. Devise a way to determine the height of

a building using only a stopwatch. B. Displacement versus time graph
(Going back to UST)
Drop a ball from the top and
monitor the time taken to reach the
ground. This works well if the building is
tall and straight. Use the free fall formula:
H = 1/2 gt2
Where “g" is the constant of
gravitational acceleration, and g = 9.8 m/s2
And “t" is the duration of fall in
seconds.
Thus we get “H" which is the C. Velocity versus time graph (Going to
distance travelled by the free-falling UST)
object, inferring the height of the building
in meters.

2. From the point of view of physics, is

there a basis to the law banning the use of
cell phone while driving?

Usage of cell phones while driving

delays the reaction time of the driver thus
causing accidents in the road. Banning of D. Velocity versus time graph (Going
cell phone usage prevents these accidents back to UST)
from happening.

3. Draw your displacement versus time

graph and velocity versus time graph from
your home on your way to UST and back.

A.Displacement versus time graph

(Going to UST)

7. References
 Sternheim, M., & Kane, J. (1991).
General physics. New Jersey: Wiley &
Sons.