SPH4U Laboratory:

Centripetal Force

Purpose: in this lab you will use the gravitational force on a small hanging mass to provide, via a string, the centripetal force necessary to keep a rubber stopper whirling at a constant radius R. You will predict, using your knowledge of centripetal force, a mathematical formula for the orbital period, T, in terms of the radius of the orbit and the values of the whirling and hanging masses. You will then carry out an experiment which will hopefully verify your predictions. Apparatus: a glass tube, safety-wrapped with tape, a rubber stopper to be whirled in a circular orbit, a length of string, and washers to use as hanging masses, a meter stick and a stopwatch capable of measuring to the nearest second. The diagram below shows the experimental set up:

Theory Questions: 1. Considering the system in dynamic equilibrium, and with R horizontal (a lie, but later youll show that makes no difference), deduce a formula for T (the period of the whirling mass) in terms of m1, m2 and R. This formula forms your prediction for how T should depend upon each of the other quantities. Make it explicit: state separate proportions for T as a function of R, m1 and m2. 2. Based upon your above proportions for T, sketch graphs of T vs. m1, T vs. m2 and T vs. R. 3. Is it possible to have the angle of depression (shown in the diagram above) equal to zero? Why or why not? Support your answer with a free body diagram. 4. Show that the angle of depression makes no difference to your answers to 1: Use the Fc formula with T (period), and show that cos divides out!

Procedure: Part A Dependence of T upon R when m1 and m2 are kept constant: 1. Set m2 = a constant number of washers (>5), and determine T when R is varied from ____ m to _____ m. Time 20 revolutions, and divide this result by 20 to get T. Enter results into the table below. Note: you must have stable orbital motion to gather reliable data. If m2 is too light, or the revolutionary period of m1 happens to coincide with the pendulum oscillation period of m2 you wont get good data (why not?), so you should experiment to see what ranges of m1, m2 and R are appropriate for this lab. m1 = ____ stoppers m2 = _____washers R[m] 20T[s] T[s]

Part B Dependence of T upon m2 when R and m1 are kept constant: a) Keep R = constant, and increment the number of hanging washers (m2) by a constant number e.g. go up by two washers at a time. b) Mystery Mass: Have your lab partner install a sufficiently heavy hooked mass as m2. Record its mass in kg in the final row of your table. R = ______ m m1 = ______stoppers m2 20T[s] (Washers) T[s]

______kg

Part C Dependence of T upon m1 when R and m2 are kept constant: R = _______m. m2 = ______ washers. m1 [stoppers] 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 20T[s] T[s]

Analysis 1. Plot graphs of T vs. R, m2 and m1 respectively. Do they tally with your sketches from before? 2. Plot graphs of T vs. the appropriate powers of R, m2 and m1. If you got the right power, you should end up with linear graphs, which would validate the formula for T youd derived earlier! Comment on the success of this endeavour. 3. Interpolate and/or extrapolate on your graphs of T vs. m2 (or, the appropriate power of m2 for your second graph) to deduce the mystery mass (in units of washers). Compute the percent difference between the average of your interpolated/extrapolated values and the actual value (Mr. G will give you the mass, in kg, of one washer). 4. Imagine the system whirling in equilibrium. Now double the hanging mass. How would you have to change either a) the whirling mass, or b) the period of revolution, to restore equilibrium. 5. If you tripled the period of revolution and doubled the whirling mass, how would you have to change the hanging mass to restore equilibrium? Discussion / Conclusions: Write a coherent paragraph which hits the following points: How well was your formula confirmed? How did T depend upon m1, m2 and R. What were the main sources of experimental error in this lab? How could we improve the lab to minimize these errors? List the many frustrations you experienced do the lab.