Verification of Newtons Second Law, F = ma Using Dynamics

Tolentino, Angela Jhoie G.

Studying BS Physics Minor Economics in De La Salle University
Maryville Dormitory 2456 Taft Avenue, Malate, Manila
angela_tolentino@dlsu.ph

__________________________________________________________
Abstract
To verify Newtons Second Law, F = ma, this experiment was done to check if
is equal to (
) when friction is ignored. [5] To obtain the acceleration, the cart was started from rest and the time (t) it takes
) Was replaced with specific values gathered
for it to travel certain distance (d) was measured. [2] (
) is not equal to
through the experiment but according to the results we have obtained (
and it
(
) is
showed a large percent difference in table 1.2. The verification of Newtons Second Law failed that
) is not equal to
equal to
, based on the experiment it shows that (
because from the results
17712.78 514500 and had a percent difference of 67.03%. The verification is proven failed because it is not also
equal in set two and three shown in table 1.2.

______________________________________________________________________________

1. Introduction

a = acceleration

Based on ordinary experience you can tell

how a force exerted on a body affects its motion. A
force may speed up the motion or slow it down
depending on the direction of the body. The force
produces a change in the velocity. Therefore force
causes a body to accelerate.

m = mass of the body

Newton perceived this effect of the motion

of an object. The quantitative relationship between
force and acceleration is precisely given in his second
law of motion. This law states that the acceleration of
a body is directly proportional and is in the same
direction as the net force applied to it and is inversely
proportional to the mass of the body. It can be written
mathematically as

If k = 1, then F = ma
Where F = net force

To say that one quantity is proportional to

another is to make a precise mathematical statement.
Acceleration is directly proportional to the net force.
This part of the law says that if the force is doubled,
then the acceleration is also doubled; if it is tripled
then, then acceleration is also tripled, and so on. In
symbols: If F causes a, then 2F will cause 2a; 3F will
cause 3a; and 1/2F will cause a.[1]
Force and acceleration are vector quantities.
They always have the same direction.
From experience and observation, you know
that if you have several objects and you apply the
same force to each, the objects will not move at the
same rate. Why? The answer to this question can be
found in the second part of Newtons second law. It
states the quantitative relation between mass and
acceleration, that is, inversely proportional to the
mass. This means that if the force is constant, an

increase in mass will produce a corresponding

decrease in acceleration and vice versa. [1] The
purpose of this experiment is to verify Newtons
Second Law, F = ma.

In terms of the given experiment distance is

given in the data therefore the equation form as
follows:

2. Methodology
In the experiment initial release position,
final position, and total distance was measured. Initial
release position was measured by pulling the cart
back until the mass hanger reaches the pulley. Final
position minus the initial release position will
therefore be the total distance.
Fig. 1 [5]

) Where
Also in table 1.2 (
= Cart mass,
= Hanging mass,
=
Acceleration.
Where
= Hanging
mass and g = gravity. Percentage difference is
calculated by the difference between two values
divided by the average of the two values. The two
) .
values are
and(

3. Results and discussion

Table 1 Position and time of cart and mass [5]

Initial Release Position

Final Position
Total Distance (d)
In table 1 cart mass and hanging mass was
weighed wherein cart mass is constant and the
hanging mass is the manipulated variable that has
three values. There are five time trials in each of the
three sets. After the trials average time was computed
to get the acceleration values.
In table 1.2 the acceleration of an object as
produced by a net force is directly proportional to the
magnitude of the net force, in the same direction as
the net force, and inversely proportional to the mass
of the object. [4]
This verbal statement can be expressed in equation
form as follows:

40 cm
107 cm
67 cm

Cart
mas
s
(g)

Hangin
g
mass
(g)

Trial
1
time

Trial
2
time

Trial
3
time

Trial
4
time

Trial
5
time

Ave
time

(secs)

(secs)

(secs)

(secs)

(secs)

525

1.85

2.17

2.11

1.89

2.03

2.01

525

59

0.97

1.06

1.13

1.08

1.16

1.08

525

109

1.08

1.11

0.94

1.06

1.99

1.04

(secs)

Table 1.2 Acceleration of the cart and mass system [5]

Cart
Mass
(g)

a(cm/s2)

525
525
525

33.17
114.88
123.89

%
Difference

)
17712.78
67089.92
78546.26

8820
57820
106820

67.03%
14.84%
30.51%

a = Fnet / m
The above equation is often rearranged to a
more familiar form as shown below. The net force is
equated to the product of the mass times the
acceleration.
Fnet = m * a

In the experiment the results did not verify

) is not equal to
that F = ma because (
.
(
(

)
)

17 712. 78

(
514 500

(
)
> m2 this shows that the
resulting total mass times acceleration is greater than
the hanging mass because the hanging mass, m2 is
just part of the resulting total mass and therefore its
value is less. In table 1.2 it is proven that (
) > m2 based on the experiment results.
(

> m2

F=ma is not equal to the mass of the cart.

(
(

m1
)

)
17 712.78

This work was performed under the course

LBYPHYX by Prof. Nelson B. Arboleda Jr.

References
[1] Navaza, D. and Valdes, B., 1996, Science and
Technology Physic, Quezon City, p. 110 111

> 9

17 712.78 > 9

ma

Acknowledgements

m1

[2]http://www.saburchill.com/physics/chapters/000
301.html
[3]http://teachspacescience.org/graphics/pdf/10000
797.pdf
[4]http://openstaxcollege.org/files/textbook_version
/low_res_pdf/9/col11406-lr.pdf

525
525

When calculating for the force on the cart, in

the mass of the cart is not included. In
the formula m1 is not included because it says that
"the force on the cart". If an object of mass m2 is
carried in the cart, the 'force on the cart' is understood
to mean the force exerted by the mass m1 (i.e. m*g).
At the end of the experiment the percentage
difference show large amount of value in the three set
of trials: 67.03%, 14.84%, and 30.51%. This shows a
large percent of error in the experiment.

4. Conclusion
Newtons Second Law, F= ma was verified.
The main objective of the experiment is to show that
(
) is equal to
but based on the results
obtained shown in table 1.2 it shows that (
)
. Percentage difference was also
computed and it gave a large result. It resulted to
67.03% for the first set, 14.84% for the second set
and 30.51% for the third set. Based on the values that
table 1.2 shows of the percentage difference it
supports the results that this experiment of
)
verification of Newtons Second Law, (
is equal to
failed.

[5] Experiment no. 7 Newtons Second Law Lab

Manual