Experiment 3

Motion Analysis using a Motion Sensor and Image Analysis Technique

Objectives:
At the end of the activity, the students should be able to:
• Use the motion sensor to measure their body’s position and velocity relative to the device
• use the Data Studio/Capstone software to determine how well your motion matches the plot of
position and velocity on the graph display
• Use pointing cell tracking plugin of ImageJ software to analyze actual cellular motility

Introduction:
When describing the motion of an object, it is important to know where it is relative to a reference point,
how fast and in what direction it is moving, and how it is accelerating (changing its rate of motion). A
sonar ranging device such as the PASCO Motion Sensor uses pulses of ultrasound that reflect from an
object to determine the position of the object. As the object moves, the change in its position is measured
many times each second. The change in position from moment to moment is expressed as a velocity
(meters per second). The change in velocity from moment to moment is expressed as an acceleration
(meters per second per second). The position of an object at a particular time can be plotted on a graph.
You can also graph the velocity and acceleration of the object versus time. It is important to understand
how to interpret a graph of position, velocity, or acceleration versus time. In this experiment you will plot
graphs of position and velocity in real-time, that is, as the motion is happening.

A) Translational Motion, B) Rotational Motion

In general, the motion of a body can be described in terms of translational and rotational motion. In pure
translational motion, all parts of the body have the same velocity and acceleration. In pure rotational
motion, such as the rotation of a bar around a pivot, the rate of change in the angle θ is the same for all
parts of the body, but the velocity and acceleration along the body depend on the distance from the center
of rotation.
For small moving objects such as a moving cell observed in a microscope, it usually requires a small and
expensive motion sensor to detect and track its motion. Thus, it is difficult to analyze its motion using a
device. One alternative method in motion analysis of small objects is through image and video analysis.
In this experiment, the motility (ability of an organism to move independently using metabolic energy)
will be analyzed using ImageJ software.
Materials:
o Science Workshop 750 Interface o Base-Support Rod
o Motion Sensor o ImageJ Software
o Meter Stick o Sample images/video of cell motility

Physics 61.1 Physics and Geology Unit, DPSM, CAS, UP Manila

Procedure:
I. Motion Analysis using a Motion Sensor
For this part of the experiment, the object will be YOU. You will move in such a way that a plot of your
motion on the same graph will “match” the line that is already there. Use the motion sensor to determine
your position as you move in a straight line with varying speeds. Use Datastudio to plot your motion on a
graph of position-time and velocity-time that is already there.

Position vs. Time

A. Computer Setup
1. Connect the ScienceWorkshop interface to the computer, turn on the interface, and turn on the
computer.
2. Connect the stereo phone plugs of the Motion Sensor to Digital Channels 1 and 2 on the interface.
Connect the yellow plug to Digital Channel 1 and the other plug to Digital Channel
3. Open the file titled P01 Position and Time.ds. Read the instructions in the Workbook. The Graph
shows Position and Time values that were entered into the Graph. Data recording is set to stop
automatically at 10 seconds. There is a three-second ‘countdown’ before data recording begins.

B. Equipment Setup
You do not need to calibrate the Motion Sensor.
1. Mount the Motion Sensor on a support rod so
that it is aimed at your midsection when you are
standing in front of the sensor. Make sure that
you can move at least 2 meters away from the
Motion Sensor.
2. Position the computer monitor so you can see
the screen while you move away from the
Motion Sensor.

C. Data Recording
Position vs. Time
1. Enlarge the Graph display until it fills the monitor screen.
2. Study the plot of Position versus Time in order to determine the following: (Write your
answers in your lab report.)
• How close should you be to the Motion Sensor at
the beginning?
• How far away should you move?
• How long should your motion last?
3. When you are ready, stand in front of the
Motion Sensor.
WARNING: You will be moving backward, so be
certain that the area behind you is free of obstacles.

4. When everything is ready, start recording data. In DataStudio, click ‘Start’. There is a three-second

Physics 61.1 Physics and Geology Unit, DPSM, CAS, UP Manila

countdown before data recording begins. The ‘cursor’ on the vertical axis of the Graph will move up and
down as you move forward and backward relative to the sensor. Use the feedback from ‘cursor’ to find
your best starting position. The Motion Sensor will make a faint clicking noise.
5. Watch the plot of your motion on the Graph and try to move so the plot of your motion matches the
Position versus Time plot already there.
Note: If the motion sensor is having difficulty picking up the echo, use a notebook as a reflector. Hold
the notebook at the same height as the sensor.
6. Repeat the data recording process a second and a third time. Try to improve the match between the plot
of your motion and the plot already on the Graph. The Graph can show more than one run of data at the
same time.
Velocity vs Time
Open the file titled P02 Velocity and Time.ds.
1. Enlarge the Graph until it fills the monitor screen.
2. Study the Velocity versus Time plot in order to determine the following:
Which direction (positive or negative) should you go at the beginning? ______ What is the maximum
speed (positive or negative) you must achieve? ______ (m/s) How long should your motion last?
_______ (s)

3. When you are ready, stand in front of the motion sensor.

Start recording data. Data recording will begin almost
immediately. The motion sensor will make a faint clicking
noise.

4. Watch the plot of your motion on the Graph, and try to

move so that the plot of your motion matches the velocity
versus Time plot that is already there.

5. Repeat the data recording process a second and a third time. Try to improve the match between the plot
of your motion and the plot that is already on the Graph. The Graph can show more than one run of data
at the same time.
D. Data Analysis
Position vs Time
1. Determine the slope of the best-fit line for the middle section of your best position versus time plot.
You may want to resize the graph to fit the data.
The slope of this part of the position versus time plot is the velocity during the selected region of
motion.
2. Determine how well your plot of motion fits the plot that was already in the Graph. (Hint: In
DataStudio, examine the ‘Match Data’ calculation.)

Velocity vs Time
1. Determine how well your best plot of velocity versus time matches the velocity versus time plot that
was already on the Graph. You may want to resize the graph to fit the data. In DataStudio, check the
‘Match Score’ calculation in a Digits display.

Physics 61.1 Physics and Geology Unit, DPSM, CAS, UP Manila

 II. Motion Analysis using Image Analysis
How to start tracking ?
1. Launch the Pointing Cell Tracking plugin. Figure 1 presents the window that should pop up:
2. Set the xy (fig.1-27) and z (fig.1-
28) calibration values as well as
the time interval value (fig.1-26)
in the appropriate option boxes.
3. Open the temporal stack using
the file/open menu in Image J.
Please note that if you plan to
“Retrieve z coordinates”, each
slice representing a 3D
projection must be labelled with
the name of the original 3D
stack. This could be achieved
using the nd stack builder plugin.
4. To start a new track, click on
“Add track” (fig.1-1). This
action will turn on the tracking
mode. Note that the parameters
are now hidden. To show
parameters, tick the “Show Figure 1. Main Interface
parameters ?” option (fig. 1-24).

5. To record xy coordinates of a structure

of interest, simply click on it on the image
window. The results table (fig.2) will pop up,
showing recorded xy coordinates, as well as
the distance travelled by the structure during
the time interval between two successive
images, and velocity of movement. The
intensity of the corresponding pixel will also
be recorded. Please note that for the first
timepoint of each track, distance and velocity
cannot be calculated: instead, 1 is written into
the table (fig.2, circled areas). The unit of
distance and velocity depend on the unit
selected in the “Manual Tracking” main Figure 2. Results table
window and is also mentioned in title of the
results table’s window.

6. In case you made mistake when clicking on the image, you can remove last tracked point by clicking on
“Delete last point” (fig.1-2). The current slice of the stack will automatically go one step back.

7. Once the current structure’s tracking is over, if the last slice has not been reached, simply click on “End
track” (fig.1-3).

8. A new line appear in the “Track listing” (fig.1-5, between buttons “Delete track n°” and “Delete all tracks”)
carrying the number of the track.

Remarks:
During tracking, you can have view/remove the current track’s path by ticking/un-ticking the “Show path” box
(fig.1-7).

Physics 61.1 Physics and Geology Unit, DPSM, CAS, UP Manila

While tracking, the coordinates may be automatically adjusted to fit the pixel representing the local
maximum, the local minimum or the barycentre of intensity in a surrounding defined by the user:
1. To enable the option, check the “Use centring correction ?” box (fig.1-10).
2. Select the appropriate “Centring option” (local maximum, local minimum or local barycentre) under
the corresponding list (fig.1-8).
3. The size of the square where the search for the centre will be done should be given in pixels in the
box “Search square size” (fig.1-29).

Remarks: During tracking, the centring option can be enabled/disabled. Uncorrected and corrected
coordinates may be seen at the right side of the “Centring option” list (fig.1-9, uncorrected > corrected).

As a first approximation, the movement may be considered as anterograde when three successive points
taken in chronological order define an angle above 90° (the distance will be positive) . To the opposite,
if the three points define an angle below 90°, the third point may be considered to go backward (the
distance will be negative). To use the 2D directionality option, proceed as explained below:
1. “Add a reference” by clicking the corresponding button (fig. 1-11). A new window invites you to
click on the desired reference. Once done, the new reference’s coordinates may be seen on interface (see
fig. 1-13). If a reference as already been set, a window will pop up asking if you want to delete the
previous reference.
2. To be taken into account when tracking, the directionality option must be selected by ticking the
“Use directionality ?” option (fig. 1-15).
3. The reference pixel may be seen as a circular ROI by ticking the “Show reference ?” option (fig. 1-
14).
4. To remove reference, click the “Delete reference” button (fig. 1-12).

Remarks: The reference is used for determination of the first direction of the movement. Further
directions are defined in comparison to this first move: direction changes each time the angle between
three successive points passes the 90° limit. The directionality defined here is given as a first
approximation: user must pay attention to its images to make sure no error is being done by the plugin
especially when the structure is bending at 90°...

How to remove one track/all tracks ?

• A track can be removed by selecting the appropriate track number in the central listing (fig.1-5) and
clicking the “Delete track n°” button (fig.1-4). A windows pops up to confirm deletion. The result table
is updated: the tracks are renumbered and selected track results deleted.
All tracks may be removed by clicking on the “Delete all tracks” button (fig.1-6).
The results table can be saved as a text file by clicking on File/Save as option in the corresponding
window.
• A previously saved result table can be reloaded by clicking on “Load previous track file” button. The
“Track listing” is updated, as well as the current results table.

Remarks: Dots size, line width and font size may be adjusted by modifying the corresponding values in
the appropriate fields under “Drawing Parameters” option

Physics 61.1 Physics and Geology Unit, DPSM, CAS, UP Manila

Details of the image series:
Description: Human sperm diluted in buffer imaged at room
temperature within two hours of ejaculation. Cell at center
swims at constant speed.
Biological Process: Ciliary or Flagellar motility; Sperm motility
Human Development Anatomy: gonodal component
Time interval: assume 0.5 second per image
Dimensions:
Spatial Axis Image Size Pixel Size
X 640px 0.22μm
Y 480px 0.22μm
Citation:
doi:10.7295/W9CIL34524
ark:/b7295/w9cil34524

Physics 61.1 Physics and Geology Unit, DPSM, CAS, UP Manila

Position vs. Time
1. From the given graph of Position vs. Time, answer the following questions:
a. How close should you be to the Motion Sensor at the beginning? _______ m
b. How far away should you move? _______ m
c. How long should your motion last? _______ s

2. What is the relationship between the motion of an object – YOU – and a graph of position and time
for the moving object? (What happens if you move forward or backward? If you move faster?)

3. In the Graph, what is the slope of the line of best fit for the middle section of your plot?

4. What is the description of your motion? (Example: “Constant speed for 2 seconds followed by no
motion for 3 seconds, etc.”)

5. What would be the physical meaning of a steeper slope on the graph?

6. What would be different about the motion if the slope were negative?

Velocity vs Time
1. From the given graph of Velocity vs. Time, answer the following questions:
a. Which direction (positive or negative) should you go at the beginning? ___________
b. What is the maximum speed (positive or negative) you must achieve? __________ (m/s)
c. How long should your motion last? __________ (s)

2. What is the relationship between the motion of an object-YOU and a graph of velocity and time for
the moving object?

3. For your best attempt, how well did your plot of motion fit the plot that was already in the Graph?

Manual tracking:
Get a screenshot of the track of the cell sample. Export the data acquired and analyze using a
spreadsheet.
1. What is the average displacement magnitude and average velocity magnitude? The average
speed of sperm is 17–67 µm/s. (https://hypertextbook.com/facts/2000/EugeneKogan.shtml)
2. What are the other possible applications of this method? Discuss your answer.
3. What is/are the possible source/s of error in using the manual tracking? Explain.
References:
Physics and Geology Unit. Laboratory Manual for Physics (Physics 71.1). 2006
www.cellimagelibrary.org/images/34524#download_options_button
Cordelieres F. Manual Tracking. Retrieved from imagej.net/Manual_Tracking

Physics 61.1 Physics and Geology Unit, DPSM, CAS, UP Manila