CENTRIPETAL FORCE AND ACCELERATION

Objectives:
To observe and measure centripetal forces
To calculate and understand what is meant by tangential velocity
To construct meaningful data and calculation tables

Equipment: Centripetal force apparatus, force sensor, stopwatch.

The acceleration of an object is defined as the time rate of change of the velocity or

= (1)

In this equation, acceleration and velocity are vectors. This means that the velocity may change in
magnitude, direction or both and that change constitutes an acceleration.

The figure to the left represents an object being whirled about in a

tangential
horizontal circle of radius r (perhaps a ball on the end of a string
being whirled horizontally over your head). The string is supplying a
r force on the ball that is directed towards the center of the circle and
acts to continuously change the direction of the velocity and not
necessarily its magnitude (i.e. the speed of the ball). This kind of
force that acts to keep something moving in a circular path, directed
toward the center of the circle, is called a centripetal force.
2

The centripetal acceleration of an object is = . Force is defined as mass times

acceleration by Newtons Second Law, so centripetal force is
2
tan
= = (2)

where m is the mass being accelerated, v is the tangential velocity and r is the radius of curvature of the
circular path.

Today we will investigate centripetal

forces with the device shown to the right.
Turning the black crank causes the
rotating arm to spin the attached mass in
a horizontal circle around the vertical
axis. Indicators below the mass allow
you to measure the radius of the masss
circular motion, timing how long it takes
for the mass to make a revolution will
allow you to find the tangential velocity
and the mass of the object is indicated on
the device.

Spring 2016 Revision

You will then have all the information necessary to calculate the centripetal force. The spring supplies
this centripetal force and you can independently and directly measure the force supplied by the spring
(when the device is stationary) by pulling on the spring in the opposite direction with a force necessary
to displace the mass by the same amount that it was displaced while in motion.

Procedure: Construct an appropriate data table in your write-up to record your data..

1. Centripetal force acting on the rotating mass

In this procedure you will collect the data required to calculate the centripetal force acting on the
rotating mass by turning the crank at a rate necessary to cause the hanging mass to extend the
spring to a known position. You will then find the force directly by hanging weights to pull on the
spring to the same position as when it was spinning.

a. Familiarize yourself with the centripetal force apparatus. When you turn the crank the mass spins
and pulls on an attached spring.

b. The mass of the hanging brass pendulum is listed on a piece of tape attached to the base of the
apparatus. Record this mass.

c. The top rotating arm can slide to shorten or lengthen the radius of the circular motion of the
hanging mass as it spins about the vertical axis of the device. Slide and secure it (there is a black,
plastic thumbscrew to secure the arm) in its 1st position. When you spin the device
appropriately, the radius of the circular path will be r = 14 cm.

d. Begin rotating the device at such a rate so that the pointed bottom of the hanging mass lines up
with the 14 cm mark while in motion. THIS TAKES SOME PRACTICE and a keen eye.

e. Use the stopwatch to time how long it takes to rotate the mass for 20 or 30 revolutions and
record. You will use this time and the radius to find the tangential velocity of the mass.

f. Measure the force that was supplied by the spring directly (with the device stationary) by
attaching a hanging mass over a pulley to the spinning mass. Ensure the height is correct so the
thread pulls horizontally (and 100% of the force component is pulling outward). Add mass to the
hanger until the spinner mass is pulled against the spring to the same position it had while
rotating (the 14 cm position).

g. Repeat steps c through f for two other arm positions of 18 cm and 22 cm. Record all of your data
carefully in table form in your write-up.

2. Calculations

a. Find the tangential velocity of the rotating mass for each of the three radii and record these
velocities in a calculations table in your write-up. You will be asked to describe your process for
this calculation in the Questions & Applications section, so be sure that you understand.

b. Calculate the centripetal force supplied by the spring using the tangential velocity, the mass of
the hanging brass pendulum and the known radius of the circular motion. Record these values
in the calculation.
Centripetal-2
 c. Record your directly measured forces (from Procedure 1-f) in your table. You are going to
compare the calculated centripetal force to this directly measured value.

d. Calculate the %-difference between the experimental (while the device was rotating) and the
accepted (stationary) value for the centripetal force and record in your calculations table.

|accepted value experimental value|

% error = 100%
accepted value

Questions & Applications:

1. Explain clearly and thoroughly how you are finding the tangential velocity of the rotating mass.

2. In this experiment what proof do you have that the centripetal force is directed toward the center of the
circular path?

3. How well do your accepted and experimental values for the centripetal force agree? Explain any
discrepancies.

4. You were asked to time 20 or 30 revolutions of the device instead of trying to time just one revolution.
Why is this the preferred method of timing for a procedure like this?

Centripetal-3