Analysing ticker tape

Ticker Timer

A ticker-timer consists of an electrical vibrator which vibrates 50 times per second. This enables it to make 50 dots per second on a ticker-tape being pulled through it. The time interval between two adjacent dots on the ticker-tape is called one tick. One tick is equal to 1/50 s or 0.02 s.

Uniform Velocity

• The distance of the dots is equally distributed.
• All lengths of tape in the chart are of equal length.
• The object is moving at a uniform velocity.

Uniform Acceleration

• The distance between the dots increases uniformly.
• The length of the strips of tape in the chart increase uniformly.
• The velocity of the object is increasing uniformly, i.e. the object is moving at a constant acceleration.

Uniform Deceleration

• The distance between the dots decreases uniformly.
• The length of the strips of tape in the chart decreases uniformly.
• The velocity of the object is decreasing uniformly, i.e. the object is decelerating uniformly.

External Link
Physics Phenomena - Ticker Tape
Physics Classroom - Ticker tape Diagram

Interactive Animation
Using Ticker Tapes to Analyse Motion - Flash Presentation