Cetripetal Force Experiment

Title : Centripetal force

Objective

To measure the centripetal force for whirling a mass round a horizontal circle and compare the result with the theoretical value given by F = m(2r .
Apparatus

12 slotted weights with hanger (0.02kg each)
1 rubber bung with nylon string about 1.5m
1 glass tube about 20cm long
1 triple beam balance
1 meter rule
1 stop watch
Several small paper markers

Theory
When a mass m attached to a string is whirled round a horizontal circle of radius r, the centripetal force for maintaining the circular motion is given by F = m(2r , where ω is the angular velocity of the circular motion. The centripetal force is provided by the tension of the string.

The string will always make an angle( to the horizontal instead of lying on the plane of the horizontal circle described by the mass m. Thus, the centripetal force is given by the horizontal component of the tension. It is shown that the tension T = m(2L regardless of the angle(.
Procedure
1. Measure the mass m of the rubber bung by the triple beam balance.

2. Attach the rubber bung with nylon string thread through the glass tube and a number of weights. First start with M = 0.12kg.

3. Measure the length of L from the rubber bung to the glass tube (i.e. 0.8m). Adjust the position of a small paper marker 1cm below the glass tube. The set up is shown below.

4. Hold the glass tube vertically and whirl the rubber bung around above your head in a horizontal circle. Increase the speed of the rubber bung gradually and allow it to move out (i.e. let L increases) until the marker is about 1 cm below the lower end of the glass tube.

5. Keep the angular speed constant so that the marker is always about 1 cm below the glass tube throughout. Ask your partner to time 20 revolutions of the bung using a stop watch. Start the stop watch at 0 and stop it at 20. Take one more confirmatory reading and obtain the mean time for 20 revolutions.

6. Calculate the angular velocity ( and hence find m(2L.

7. Repeat the experiment using different masses M (i.e. 0.16kg, 0.20kg, 0.24kg).
Precaution

1. Make sure that the surrounding is cleared before the experiment.

2. You should wear safety goggles.

3. The glass tube should be held above your head.

4. The angular speed of the motion should be kept constant so that the marker was always about 1 cm below the glass tube throughout.

Result Mass of the rubber bung m = 0.0543 kg

|M / kg |Mg / N |Time for revolutions 20t / s |Angular speed |m(2L / N |
| | | |[pic][pic] / rad s-1 | |
| | |1 st trial |2 nd trial |Mean | | |
|0.12 |1.2 |22.3 |22.1 |22.2 |5.66 |1.39 |
|0.16 |1.6 |21.8 |21.7 |21.8 |5.78 |1.45 |
|0.20 |2.0 |19.0 |19.1 |19.1 |6.60 |1.89 |
|0.24 |2.4 |17.4 |17.1 |17.3 |7.28 |2.31 |

Discussion

1. The string is not exactly horizontal when the rubber bung is whirling, but the angle( made between the string and the horizontal is very small, so the tension T is calculated as m(2L regardless of the angle(, the values of m(2L are similar to the values of m(2r .

The centripetal force is given by the tension in thread, because T = Mg, so the centripetal force is also equal to the weight of the slotted weights (i.e. F = Mg). From the result above, the values of the centripetal force are similar to the values given by F = m(2L (i.e. Mg= m(2L).

2. The sources of errors in the experiment There are two error in this experiment, which are systematic error and random error. The systematic error is the reaction time of the person who starts and stops the stop watch, this will affect the time needed. The random error is the air resistance during the experiment, this will increase the time needed for the revolutions.

3. Improvement The experiment should be done by the same person. Also, the number of revolution should be more so that the systematic error caused by the reaction time will decrease.

Conclusion

From the result, the centripetal force increases when the weight of the slotted weights increases. Because of the problem and errors stated above, the values of the centripetal force is similar but not exactly the same with the theoretical values given by F = m(2r .
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mg

L

T

(

r

mass m

r

F

Rubber bung

Slotted weights with hanger
M

Small paper marker

Glass tube

Nylon string

L

m

Glass tube

Small paper marker

M

M

Small paper marker

Glass tube

m

L

(

Mg

T

T