Work Investigation Lab Report
Work Investigation
Purpose: In this lab, you will work with a partner to investigate the force required to do work on an aluminum plate as you pull it at different angles.
Materials:
1 aluminum plate
String
1 kg mass (you might need to use two 500-gram masses)
1 spring scale
Prediction:
Before you begin, sketch a graph that shows your prediction of the relationship between the force and the angle you pull it at. In other words, what patter do you think the graph will demonstrate?
Procedure:
1. Place you aluminum plate so that its narrow side aligns with the edge of your table.
2. Add a 1kg mass to the plate or two 500-gram masses.
3. Attach you spring scale to the string loop.
4. Pull on the plate at an angle of zero degrees (parallel
to the table). Try to make the plate slide at a constant speed, but do not pull too far so that your plate falls off the table.
5. Record the applied force on your data table (page 2).
6. Return your plate to its starting position, and pull it at an angle of 15 degrees below the horizontal. Record your applied force.
7. Repeat step 6; however, change the angle of the applied force as indicated in your table.
As you increase the angle, what conclusion can you make about the applied force needed to do work? Support your response with evidence from your table and graph.
How does your prediction graph compare to your final graph?
Purpose: In this lab, you will work with a partner to investigate the force required to do work on an aluminum plate as you pull it at different angles.
Materials:
1 aluminum plate
String
1 kg mass (you might need to use two 500-gram masses)
1 spring scale
Prediction:
Before you begin, sketch a graph that shows your prediction of the relationship between the force and the angle you pull it at. In other words, what patter do you think the graph will demonstrate?
Procedure:
1. Place you aluminum plate so that its narrow side aligns with the edge of your table.
2. Add a 1kg mass to the plate or two 500-gram masses.
3. Attach you spring scale to the string loop.
4. Pull on the plate at an angle of zero degrees (parallel
to the table). Try to make the plate slide at a constant speed, but do not pull too far so that your plate falls off the table.
5. Record the applied force on your data table (page 2).
6. Return your plate to its starting position, and pull it at an angle of 15 degrees below the horizontal. Record your applied force.
7. Repeat step 6; however, change the angle of the applied force as indicated in your table.
As you increase the angle, what conclusion can you make about the applied force needed to do work? Support your response with evidence from your table and graph.
How does your prediction graph compare to your final graph?