Title: Circular Motion Lab
Author: Saige Miller
Partner: Kelly Schneck
Date: 12/8/15
Author: Saige Miller
Partner: Kelly Schneck
Date: 12/8/15
Purpose
The purpose of this lab is to find how mass effects centripetal force using calculated and measured values.
Theory
The bob at the bottom of the pendulum follows a circular path due to tension in the pole, and is acted on by a centripetal force. The net force at the bottommost point is the tension of the pole as well as the force due to gravity.
The equation to the right is used to calculate the centripetal force. |
Experimental Technique
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In this lab, we created a pendulum set up with a Photogate and force sensor. We measured the flag length, radius , and mass and put the appropriate data into date studio. From there, making sure the sensors are zeroed, we swung the pendulum while data studio produced a graph demonstrating the velocity and force.
Once we had the graph, we chose several points and looked at how the velocity and force changed during the swing. For each velocity chosen, the smart tool was used to find the corresponding centripetal force on the graph. The measured centripetal force was compared to the calculated centripetal force. |
Data
Analysis
Conclusion
As the pendulum bob swings back and forth, it is affected by mass, velocity, and radius. Any variation in these measurements will cause error between the measured and calculated values.
Possible reasons for error in the calculated versus the measured value of centripetal force could be from an inaccurate measurement of the radius and/or flag length, paradox errors within all measurements, the alignment of the pendulum bob within the sensor, the way the bob swung through the sensor, and inconsistent velocity. Velocity contributes to the greatest amount of error because it is a more complex measurement than that of radius or flag length. Also the points on the graphs by which we collected the velocity data were somewhat difficult to pick out.
To improve the outcome of the investigation, more trials could be run, the bob should swing as straight as possible, the center of the bob should be aligned with the sensor as accurate as possible, and the bob should be released from the same height each trial.
Possible reasons for error in the calculated versus the measured value of centripetal force could be from an inaccurate measurement of the radius and/or flag length, paradox errors within all measurements, the alignment of the pendulum bob within the sensor, the way the bob swung through the sensor, and inconsistent velocity. Velocity contributes to the greatest amount of error because it is a more complex measurement than that of radius or flag length. Also the points on the graphs by which we collected the velocity data were somewhat difficult to pick out.
To improve the outcome of the investigation, more trials could be run, the bob should swing as straight as possible, the center of the bob should be aligned with the sensor as accurate as possible, and the bob should be released from the same height each trial.
Reference
Giancoli, D. (1998). Physics: Principles with Applications (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall.
Lahs Physics (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2015, from www.lahsphysics.weebly.com
Lahs Physics (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2015, from www.lahsphysics.weebly.com