Forces And Newton's Second Law Lab Report

Alixandria Zeidel
Physics 131 – section LZ
Hasbrouck 208
10/01/14
Forces and Newton’s 2nd law
Abstract
The purpose of this lab was to learn about how force influences acceleration. A hanging mass is tied to a frictionless glider and the mass is dropped. While the glider is being pulled by the mass it is possible to measure to tension force on the rope between the two objects. A motion sensor graphs the movement of the system and from the slope it is possible to calculate the acceleration of both items. By recording the masses and acceleration of both the glider and hanging mass, it is possible to measure the forces acting on the system.
1. For both the 1st and 2nd labs, we had objects that were “falling” (a golf ball for lab 1 and the hanging
Both objects were in free fall because gravity was the only force acting on them. For that reason, the acceleration remained constant.
2. for the force board, is the ring in the middle accelerating? What are the forces acting on the ring, and what is the net force acting on the ring? Is gravity acting on the ring? Why isn't the ring in free fall? If we dropped the force board, how would the horizontal and vertical components of the acceleration of the ring change?
The ring does have acceleration. However, it does not move because all the forces acting on the ring cancel each other out leaving a net force of 0. The ring is not considered to be in free fall because other forces, such as the mass and acceleration of the chains, are acting on it. Gravity isn’t acting on the ring because the net force on upward cancels gravity’s force downward. If the board was dropped the individual forces acting on the ring would not change. The only effect would be the downward force of gravity on the board as a whole.
3. Consider the diagram below which is a model of the force board used in lab. The magnitude of vector B and C are 6 and 8, respectively. Find the magnitude and direction (relative to the horizontal) of vector A such that the ring in the middle does not
Although the values of both are really small it might play a role in altered data. Second error can result from choosing a slope from the graph that might not be precise and therefore altering the value of the acceleration. Third error can result from giving each mass unequal time for free fall which could alter the data values.
7. Suppose the string connecting the glider and the hanging mass is suddenly cut. Describe explicitly for both the hanging mass and the glider what the velocity and acceleration will be before and after the string is cut. (Assume the friction between the air track and glider is negligible)
The velocity of both at the moment before the string is cut will be equal. After then string is cut the hanging mass would continue to accelerate while falling until it hits the ground and stops. The glider would continue to slide down the track. Because there is no horizontal forces acting on the glider it would continue going back and forth until it comes to a stop.