INTERPRETATION

Uniform circular motion describes the motion of a body traversing a circular

path at constant speed. The distance of the body from the axis of rotation remains
constant at all times. Though the body’s speed is constant, its velocity is not
constant. Taking note on velocity of vector quantity, it depends on the body’s speed
and its direction of travel. This changing velocity indicates the presence of
acceleration. Centripetal force is of constant magnitude and directed at all times
towards the axis of rotation. This acceleration is, in turn, produced by the
centripetal force which is also constant and directed towards the axis of rotation.

The velocity of the particle in uniform circular motion is variable and is

tangential or circumferential to the path of motion. The trajectory of uniform circular
motion is circular arc or a circle. The acceleration is due to an inward acting force,
which is known as the centripetal force. Centripetal force is required to maintain
uniform circular motion against the natural tendency of the bodies to move linearly.
Centripetal force is variable and radial in direction.

Centripetal force is a force that tends to deflect an object moving in a straight

path and compels it to move in a circular path. It is just a label to represent the
unbalanced force experienced by the body every time it moves in a circular fashion.

Based from Newton’s Second Law,

(eqn. 1)

is the unbalanced force, the mass of the body is denoted by m and a is

the acceleration. In the case of bodies moving in a circular path, is the
centripetal force, and ac is the centripetal acceleration. The magnitude of the
centripetal acceleration is given by the expression,

(eqn. 2)

As approaches zero, the instantaneous acceleration is

(eqn. 3)

Thus, the centripetal force in terms of tangential velocity is expressed as,

(eqn. 4)
 In terms of angular velocity,
(eqn. 5)

In terms of frequency of rotation, f ( ),

(eqn. 6)

In this particular experiment, we investigated the effects of varying the

parameters involved in circular motion. And we only considered horizontal circular
type of motion. First, we determine the centripetal force with variable radius of
rotation. Second, we determine the centripetal force with constant radius and
variable mass of rotating body. Lastly, we determine the mass of rotating body with
constant radius and variable force.

The three parts of the experiment used only one set up of apparatus.

For the first part, the determination of centripetal force with variable radius of
rotation, we let to create a constant centripetal force by hanging a known mass
over the clamp-on pulley. Then, we initially set the radius to 16 cm. After which, we
noted the position of the orange indicator that served as our reference. As the
hanging mass was removed and the apparatus was gently rotated, the orange
indicator must be centered in the indicator bracket to keep the rotating object at its
desired radius. The time to complete ten revolutions was then recorded using a
stopwatch. The frequency of rotation is simply the inverse of period.

The known hanging mass was also equal to the centripetal force. Therefore,
removing the known mass was also the same as determining the centripetal force.

This part was performed five times. Each trial the radius was changed to its
desired radius. The centripetal force was then calculated using equation 6

Where,
m = mass of rotating body

f = frequency of rotation

r = radius of rotation
The actual value of centripetal force is equal to the mass hanging plus mass
of pan times the acceleration due to gravity. The force in the spring is balanced by
the mass hanging over the pulley.
 For the summary of data obtained, observed, and calculated for the second
part refer to the table below.

I. Determination of Centripetal Force (variable radius of rotation)

mass of rotating body, m = 207.8 g
(mass hanging + mass of pan) 980 cm/s2 = 49 000 dynes
actual value of centripetal force
Centripetal Force,
radius of rotation, period of rotation, frequency of
TRIAL (experimental
r T rotation, f
value) Fc
1 16 cm 16.88 s 0.592 rev/s 46,001.1 dynes
2 17 cm 17.01 s 0.588 rev/s 48,217.9 dynes
3 18 cm 17.18 s 0.582 rev/s 50,017.7 dynes
4 19 cm 17.51 s 0.571 rev/s 50,819.6 dynes
5 20 cm 17.84 s 0.561 rev/s 51,636.9 dynes
Centripetal Force (average) 49,338.54 dynes
Percentage difference 0.68 %

The second part was the determination of the centripetal force with constant
radius and variable mass of rotating body. This part has the same procedure in part
one but the radius is fixed at the desired position. The only variable that was
changed was the mass of the rotating body. Part two was performed for three trials
changing the mass every trial.

The experimental value of the centripetal force was calculated using equation
6

Where,
m = mass of rotating body

f = frequency of rotation

r = radius of rotation

And for the actual value of the centripetal force we then again use
 For the summary of data obtained, observed, and calculated for the first part
refer to the table below.

II. Determination of Centripetal Force (constant radius and variable mass

of rotating body)
radius of rotation, r = 20 cm
(mass hanging + mass of pan) 980 cm/s2 = 49,000 dynes
actual value of centripetal force
Centripetal Force,
mass of rotating period of rotation, frequency of
TRIAL (experimental
body, m T rotation, f
value) Fc
1 207.8 g 17.84 s 0.56 rev/s 51,453.1 dynes
2 157.2 g 15.20 s 0.66 rev/s 52,440.8 dynes
3 106.6 g 12.61 s 0.79 rev/s 52,529.2 dynes
Centripetal Force (average) 52,141.0 dynes
Percentage difference 6.21 %

The third part was the determination of rotating body with constant radius
and variable force. Also, this part has the same steps of procedures in part one but
the centripetal force varies. The radius was also fixed at the desired position.
Varying the centripetal force is to hang a different mass over the pulley. This part
was performed five trials. Each trial varies a centripetal force. Thus, every trial there
was a changed in hanging mass.

From the equation

We can derive the equation to calculate the mass of the rotating body which
gives us

Where,
Fc = centripetal force

f = frequency of rotation

r = radius of rotation
 For the summary of data obtained, observed, and calculated for the last part
refer to the table below.

III. Determination of mass of rotating body (constant radius and variable

force)
Radius of rotating body, r = 16 cm
Mass of rotating body, m = 207.8 g
(actual value)
(mass hanging mass of rotating
+ mass of pan) period of frequency of
body,
TRIAL rotation, rotation,
980 cm/s2, (experimental
T f
centripetal force value) m

0.558659
1 39,200 dynes 1.79 s 198.844 g
rev/s
0.606061
2 49,000 dynes 1.65 s 211.1953 g
rev/s
0.684932
3 58,800 dynes 1.46 s 198.4282 g
rev/s
0.729927
4 68,600 dynes 1.37 s 203.8382 g
rev/s
0.775194
5 78,400 dynes 1.29 s 206.5455 g
rev/s
mass of rotating body (average) 203.770 g
Percentage difference 1.96%

For all the parts of the experiment, we calculated the percent difference
using the equation

Based on the experiment performed, we were able to quantify the centripetal

force on the body when one of the parameters is held constant. Centripetal force is
required to maintain uniform circular motion against the natural tendency of the
bodies to move linearly. Newton’s second law of motion is used to measure the
magnitude of the centripetal force.
 From this law arises the equation , and centripetal force can be
derived using this equation which is . Taking one variable as
constant from this equation led us to determine the centripetal force.

Uniform circular motion describes the motion of a body traversing a circular

path at constant speed. The acceleration due to inward acting force is known as the
centripetal force. The trajectory of which is an arc or a circle.

We were also able to verify the factors involved in circular motion. The
velocity in a uniform circular motion changes but its speed remained constant. This
changing velocity denotes the presence of acceleration. The acceleration is called
the centripetal acceleration which of constant magnitude and is directed at all times
towards the axis of rotation.