Jacob Watts-St.

Germain

MECE-301 Applications Lab

HW #3

Due: Friday 9/22/17

1.) I predict that our sensor will have a linear calibration curve because of the way that we are going to collect the
data. Our group has the webcam sensor, and we plan on putting a grid board behind the webcam so when we
record the box swinging after the ball lands inside it, we can freeze frame the video and get the max height and
compare it against the grid board. We plan on calibrating the sensors by comparing it to hand measurements
taken by us. We are going to hold the box in place, take an actual measurement, then compare it to the image
taken by the webcam. Because the camera will nearly see what we can visually see, I believe that it will be a 1:1
correlation between the actual height and the height seen from the webcam. Unlike other sensors that rely on
swing angles or magnetic force, this sensor should have a 1:1 correlation for the calibration check. The
calibration curve should therefore be approximately linear if the webcam is operating correctly.

2.) A
 3.) The following equations are the 5 parameters and their linear sensitivities based on the base values for each of
the parameters.

The base equation for the velocity is seen as

2
( )
=
2

Ball mass :
2 .5 2 2 .5
1 ( ) 1( ) 1 ( )

=2( 2
) ( 2
2
) = 2( 3
2
)
=

With the values given in table 1, the slope (linear sensitivity) was calculated to be 7.588 m / (s * kg)

Ball diameter :
.5
2
1 ( ) ( ) 2 1 ( ) 2
= ( ) ( )= ( ) =
2 2 2 2 2

With the values given in table 1, the slope (linear sensitivity) was calculated to be .020 m / (s * m)

Tube Length :
2 .5 2 2 .5
1 ( ) ( ) 1 ( )

=2( 2
) ( )= 2
( 2
) .5
=
2

With the values given in table 1, the slope (linear sensitivity) was calculated to be .103 m / (s * m)

Atmospheric Pressure :
2 .5 2 2 .5
1 ( ) 1

=2( 2
) ( )= (
2 2
) ( ).5
=
2

With the values given in table 1, the slope (linear sensitivity) was calculated to be .056 m / (s * Pa)

Vacuum Pressure :
2 .5 2 2 .5
1 ( ) 1

=2( 2
) 1 ( )= (
2 2
) ( ).5
=
2

With the values given in table 1, the slope (linear sensitivity) was calculated to be -.942 m / (s * Pa)

From the linear sensitivities, we learn that the ball mass and the vacuum pressure are the two most important factors
that will influence the final exit velocity. This makes sense because the mass is so small (~.003 kg) and is in the
denominator of the velocity equation. Any small change to this value will drastically change the final velocity. Ball
diameter is the factor that will influence the final velocity the least, since it has the smallest uncertainty. The tube length
and atmospheric pressure linear sensitivities have similar values, and are in the middle of the group. For the vacuum
pressure, since it is a value that is used for a difference against a large atmospheric pressure, any changes in this value
will change the model more than other parameters. This value for the vacuum pressure is also large because the
standard deviance is larger than any other parameter (due to the inconsistencies when taping down the tube).
 4.) Below is a table of base values and uncertainties for each of our parameters.

Parameter Base Value Uncertainty (+/-) Units

Ball Mass, (m) 2.9 0.1 [g]
Ball Diameter, (d) 1.556 0.002 [in]
Tube Length, (L) 59.86 0.03 [in]
Atmospheric Pressure, (P_atm) 99610 30 [Pa]
Vacuum Pressure, (P_vac) 3200 500 [Pa]

The base values were taken as the average from each of our 10 measurements. For the ball mass and ball diameter, we
weighed the mass and measured the diameter of each of the 10 balls we were given. For the tube length, we measured
the length of a single tube in 10 different spots around the circumference of the tube. For the atmospheric pressure, we
took readings every few seconds for a minute and recorded those as our 10 values. For the vacuum pressure, I took the
data that was posted online for the first 10 trials and used that as data for the average and uncertainty calculation.

For the uncertainties, we added the systematic and random errors using the formula below:
2 2 .5
= ( + )

The systematic error was calculated as one half of the Instrument Least Count. The random error was calculated as the
standard deviation from the 10 data points taken for each parameter. The total uncertainty was then calculated by
squaring both the systematic and random errors, adding them together, and then taking the square root of the result.
This is seen in the formula above.

5.) In order to get the maximum and minimum bounds for the ball velocity, we should use the maximum or
minimum of our parameters based on the equation for the final velocity. To get the maximum velocity, we
should use the base value plus the uncertainty (maximum value) for the atmospheric pressure, ball diameter
and tube length, while we should use the base value minus the uncertainty (minimum value) for the ball mass
and vacuum pressure. Based on the base values and uncertainties listed above, the conditions for the maximum
velocity of the ball are:

Maximum Velocity Conditions

Measurement Ball Mass (g) Ball Diameter (in) Length of Tube (in) P atm (Pa) P vac (Pa)
Value 2.8 1.558 59.89 99640 2700

2
( )
Based on the derived equation for the final velocity of the ball: = 2
The calculated maximum velocity for the ball is 359.938 m/s
To get the minimum velocity, we should do the opposite of what we used for the maximum velocity value. We
should use the base value plus the uncertainty (maximum value) for the ball mass and vacuum pressure, while
we should use the base value minus the uncertainty (minimum value) for the atmospheric pressure, ball
diameter and tube length. Based on the base values and uncertainties listed above, the conditions for the
maximum velocity of the ball are:

Minimum Velocity Conditions

Measurement Ball Mass (g) Ball Diameter (in) Length of Tube (in) P atm (Pa) P vac (Pa)
Value 3.0 1.554 59.83 99580 3700

2
( )
Based on the derived equation for the final velocity of the ball: = 2
The calculated maximum velocity for the ball is 344.765 m/s

Therefore, our range of predicted velocities is from 344.765 m/s to 359.938 m/s