Newtons 2

nd
Law Class Activity Name:
Physics Period:
In this activity, we will look at the two factors that determine an objects acceleration: the force actin on it and its mass!
"e will #se carts with very low friction, so we will inore the friction even tho#h it is really there!
Part 1: Force and Acceleration
$sin %ernier e&#i'ment, we will meas#re the force a''lied to an object and its acceleration, as we add
more weiht to the strin that '#lls the object!
(ata: )orce vs! Acceleration *ass:
+rial )orce A''lied Acceleration
,
2
-
.
/
Analysis:
,! *ake a ra'h of yo#r data with the force on the y0a1is and the acceleration on the 10a1is!
2! )ind a linear e&#ation for the best0fit line on yo#r ra'h 2*ake the best0fit line a straiht line!3
Part 2: Mass and Acceleration
$sin %ernier e&#i'ment, we will meas#re the acceleration of an object as mass is added to the object
while a constant force is a''lied to the object!
(ata: *ass vs Acceleration )orce:
+rial *ass of Cart Acceleration
,
2
-
.
/
Analysis:
,! *ake a ra'h of yo#r data with the acceleration on the y0a1is and the mass on the 10a1is!
2! )ind an e&#ation for the best0fit line on yo#r ra'h 2$se a 'ower fit3
Analysis:
,! Com'are the e&#ation yo# ot for yo#r data line in Part 1: Force and Acceleration to Newtons 2
nd

Law 2solved for force3! 4o# sho#ld find that the two e&#ations match #'!
i3 Accordin to Newtons 2
nd
Law, what is the slo'e of yo#r data line e&#ivalent to5 "hat is the val#e
yo# et from yo#r data5 6ow close is it to the val#e we meas#red at the beinnin of the lab5
ii3 Accordin to Newtons 2
nd
Law, what sho#ld the val#e of the y0interce't be5 "hat val#e do yo# et
from yo#r data5 "hat does it mean if they are not e1actly the same5
2! ,! Com'are the e&#ation yo# ot for yo#r data line in Part 2: Mass and Acceleration to Newtons
2
nd
Law 2solved for acceleration3! 4o# sho#ld find that the two e&#ations match #'!
i3 Accordin to the Newtons 2
nd
Law e&#ation, what 'ower sho#ld yo#r 10val#es be raised to5 "hat
val#e does yo#r e&#ation for yo#r best0fit line act#ally ive5 6ow close are the two val#es5
ii3 Accordin to Newtons 2
nd
Law, what is the constant in yo#r e&#ation 2the val#e that is m#lti'lied by
the 1 raised to some 'ower3 e&#ivalent to5 "hat is the val#e yo# et from yo#r data5 6ow close is it to
the val#e we meas#red in the lab5
Concl#sion:
7ased on the ra'hs yo# made from yo#r data and the e&#ations that fit those ra'hs, e1'lain how an
objects acceleration is related to the force a''lied to it and to the objects mass5 (o yo#r concl#sions
match #' with the version of Newtons second law that we learned in class5 If there are any
discre'ancies between yo#r data and what we learned in class, what do yo# think we miht have done in
the lab to see different res#lts5