Analyzing Circular Motion Lab

Name: Jun Cassidy Santos

Partners: Allen
Date: October 24, 2016
Course Code: SPH4U
Teacher: Mr. Spensieri
Purpose:
The purpose of this lab is to experiment with the relationship between the force of gravity and tension to
learn how they are relatable in their forces despite gravity being vertical and the tension horizontal. As
well as learning, how the formulae are proven and affected by changing the frequency, radius, and metal
and rubber stopper mass.

Procedure:
Refer to pgs. 45

Materials:
Refer to pgs. 45
Changes:
-Used pen tube instead of glass tube
-Used cellular phone timer instead of a stopwatch
-Did not use paper clip

Analysis: (Charts/Graphs)
PART A:

Run # 1 1 2 2 3 3 AVG. AVG.

Metal Time(s) Freq.(Hz) Time(s) Freq.(Hz) Time(s) Freq.(Hz) Time(s) Freq.(Hz)
Mass
(kg)
0.49 4 0.2 5 0.25 3.5 0.175 4.16 0.21
0.98 8 0.4 7.5 0.375 9 0.45 8.16 0.41
1.96 16 0.8 15.5 0.775 16.5 0.825 16 0.8
PART B:

Run # 1 1 2 2 3 3 AVG. AVG.

Radius (r) Time(s) Freq.(Hz) Time(s) Freq.(Hz) Time(s) Freq.(Hz) Time(s) Freq.(Hz)
(m)
0.45 8 0.4 8.5 0.425 7.5 0.375 8 0.4
0.60 11 0.55 10.5 0.525 11.5 0.575 11 0.55
0.75 14 0.7 14.5 0.725 13.5 0.675 14 0.7
PART C:

Run # 1 1 2 2 3 3 AVG. AVG.

Object Time(s) Freq.(Hz) Time(s) Freq.(Hz) Time(s) Freq.(Hz) Time(s) Freq.(Hz)
Mass
(kg)
0.015 6 0.3 5.5 0.275 6.5 0.325 6 0.3
0.025 8 0.4 7.5 0.375 8.5 0.425 8 0.4
0.030 10 0.5 10.5 0.525 9.5 0.475 10 0.5
Graphs: a)

Frequency Vs. Tension

Tension Linear (Tension)
2.5 1.96
2
1.5 0.98
Tension 1 0.49
0.5
0
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9
Frequency

Frequency vs. Radius

Radius Exponential (Radius)
0.8
0.6

RAdius 0.4
0.2
0
0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5 0.55 0.6 0.65 0.7 0.75
Frequency

Frequency vs. Mass

Mass Exponential (Mass)
0.04 0.03
0.03 0.02

0.02 0.02
MASS
0.01
0
0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5 0.55
Frequency
Questions:
c) Refer to attached lined sheet of paper
d)

FT

Fg

Conclusion: (e), f), g))

As the frequency increases, it become much harder to accurately measure the frequency
per 20 rotations with the naked eye. This meant much of the error in the lab was primarily human
error or that the experiment is unable to prevent outside effects. One such fact is that the force of
tension should only be horizontal, but since we are holding the pen tube it meant that we could
interfere unintentionally. There are also some random occurrences of error such as the fishing
line tangling up or the radius being incorrect because the weight changed the radius before we
could get the stopper spinning. We tried to limit these sources of error by minimizing the amount
of force we put on the stopper to start it from spinning, so we dont spin it too fast, and we tried
to keep our arms perpendicular to the ground to make a ninety-degree angle and keep the tension
horizontal. This lab demonstrated the all three of Newtons Laws of Motion. The First Law is
that if the net force is zero then the object maintains rest or constant velocity. This was proven
because the stopper held constant velocity because the sum of forces is equal to the force of
gravity, so when they are equal the stopper would move at constant speed. The Second Law is
proven because the net forces direction is towards the middle of the circle and means that the
force of acceleration is directly proportional to the stoppers mass. The Third Law if proven
because the reaction force is opposite in direction to the force of tension but equal meaning that
there is a reaction force equal in magnitude but different direction.