Circular Motion

1.0 Results:
The results from all three trials and their averages are presented in Table 1. The period of
oscillation of the rubber stopper, T is calculated using equation 1:
𝑡
T=10 (1)

where t is the time taken for 10 oscillations of the rubber stopper.

Table 1: Raw and derived data
Mass of t (s) T(s) T2 (s2) 𝟏
(kg-1)
𝑴
slotted
weight, 1st 2nd 3rd Average
M (kg)
0.020 12.09 10.67 10.65 11.14 1.114 1.2 50.0
0.040 7.84 8.41 7.76 8.01 0.801 0.64 25.0
0.060 6.49 7.74 6.43 6.89 0.689 0.48 17.0
0.080 5.07 4.86 4.80 4.91 0.491 0.24 13.0
0.100 4.60 4.91 4.87 4.79 0.470 0.22 10.0
0.120 4.55 4.17 4.28 4.33 0.433 0.19 8.0
0.140 3.67 3.97 3.86 3.83 0.383 0.15 7.0
0.160 3.66 3.58 3.51 3.58 0.368 0.14 6.0

Example of the calculation for 0.020 kg of slotted weight,

12.09+10.67+10.65
t average = = 11.14s
3
11.14
T= = 1.114s
10

T2=1.2s2
1 1
= =50.0kg-1
M 0.020
 2.0 Discussion:

The hypothesis is, when the mass of slotted weight increases, the period of oscillation of rubber
stopper in a horizontal uniform circular motion decreases. Based on the results from table 1, three
readings of time taken for 10 oscillations of the rubber stopper in uniform circular motion were
recorded. An average value was calculated to reduce the possibility of random errors. From Table
1, it can be observed that the trend is when the mass of slotted weight(M) increases, the period of
oscillation of rubber stopper(T) decreases. The hypothesis is accepted.
Diagram 1 shows the free body diagram of the rubber stopper oscillating in a horizontal circular
motion.
𝑣2
a= 𝑟

Ftensiom

Fweight of rubber stopper

(diagram 1)
The centripetal force is the tension of the string which is directed towards the center.

In order to plot a line of best fit, a theoretical formula is derived to get Y= mX + C.

𝐹𝑐 = 𝐹𝑇𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 𝐹𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑔

Therefore, Fc = F weight of slotted weight hanging

The weight of the slotted weight pulls the string and causes tension thus they are equal.
 𝒎𝒗𝟐 𝒗𝟐
𝑭𝒄 = ,a=
𝒓 𝒓

𝒎 𝟐𝝅𝒓 2 , 𝟐𝝅𝒓
=𝒓 ( ) 𝒗= (5)
𝑻 𝑻

𝟒𝝅𝟐 𝒓𝟐 𝒎
= (2)
𝒓𝑻𝟐

𝟒𝝅𝟐 𝒓𝒎
𝑴𝒈 = (3)
𝑻𝟐

, the masses cannot be cancelled because they are different.

𝟒𝝅𝟐 𝒓𝒎 𝟏
𝑻𝟐 = (𝑴) + 𝟎 (4)
𝒈

This is the theoretical formula which follows the format,

Y=m X + c
All variables in the derived equation are defines in Table 2
Table 2: Definition of variables
Parameter Definition Unit
F Force N
M Mass of rubber stopper kg
M Mass of slotted weight kg
R Radius m
T Period s
V Velocity ms-1
G Gravitational acceleration ms-2
The rubber stopper is moving in uniform circular motion with constant speed, but the velocity is

changing in direction, the change in velocity causes acceleration. From Newton’s 2nd law of motion

there must be a force which is the tension causing the acceleration, F=ma. From equation 4, T2 is

1 4𝜋 2 𝑟𝑚
directly proportional to 𝑀 with as a constant. The results from the table 1 show a trend that
𝑔

1 1
as T2 increases, increases too. The graph of T2 against 𝑀 is plotted. Based on the graph, T2 is
𝑀

1
increasing linearly to , the graph is not directly proportional because there is a presence of
𝑀

systematic and random errors causing the points of in the graph to scatter and the best fit line not

to pass through origin. According to the equation 4, the graph should pass through the origin

because the y-intercept is 0. The best fit line passes through 3 points going over 3 points and under

2 points and intercepts the negative y-axis. The graph does not follow the trend of the theoretical

formula.

Based on the graph, the most obvious error is random errors due to the scatter of points and not all

points lie on the best fit line, the distribution of points above and below the line of best fit is not

even. This indicates that the results are less precise. One of the random errors is most probably due

the inconsistent rotating of rubber stopper which causes the speed to not be constant affecting the

period of oscillation of the rubber stopper. From the equation 5, the speed of oscillation is inversely

proportional to the period of oscillation. The person doing the experiment should rotate the rubber

stopper for a certain period of time until the speed becomes constant before counting the number

of oscillations. Secondly, the plastic holder moves vertically up and down during oscillation, this

causes the radius to increase or decrease affecting the period of oscillation. From equation 5, the

radius is directly proportional to the period of oscillation. The person rotating the rubber stopper
should have good grip on the plastic holder to prevent it from sliding up and down and maintain

the distance between the paper clip and the plastic holder. The third random error is the counting

of the number of oscillations since the rubber stopper is rotating very fast thus making it difficult

to count the actual number of oscillations, the number of oscillations counted may be higher or

lower than actual number. Technology can be used, for example the slow-motion camera from the

smartphone to slow down the time frame so that it is easier to count the actual number of

oscillations. Another random error was the reflex time to count 10 oscillations of the rubber stopper

using stopwatch since the rubber stopper is rotating very fast. This error was reduced by repeating

the experiment 3 times by the same person to increase the sample size and get an average, making

the results more precise. Another error will be the hanging slotted weight will not remain at rest

during the oscillation thus causing the weight to not equal to the tension. Another random error is

that the rubber stopper does not oscillate horizontally but with an angle (diagram 2) therefore

changing the force thus affecting the period of oscillation. This can be prevented if the rubber

stopper is rotated at a higher frequency until it oscillates horizontally.

𝑣2
𝑎= Ftension 𝐹𝐶 = 𝐹𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 sin Ɵ
𝑟

Fmg

(diagram 2)
The best fit line does not pass through the origin indicating systematic error thus the results

obtained are less accurate. One of the systematic error is the friction between the plastic holder

and the string. This will result in a reduced speed since there is friction acting against the motion

thus increasing the period of oscillation. If nylon string is used the friction will reduce. The second

possible systematic error will be the air resistance. During the oscillation of the rubber stopper in

the air there will be movement against the air particles. Air resistance will oppose the movement

of the rubber stopper causing the speed of rubber stopper to decrease. Thus, the period of the

oscillation of the rubber stopper increases. Since air resistance is directly proportional to the cross-

sectional area, air density, drag coefficient, and speed thus a smaller and more aerodynamic object

can reduce the air resistance of the object in circular motion. Another systematic error found in

this experiment is the elasticity of the string. The elasticity of the string may vary, when the rubber

stopper is tied to the string it will stretch causing the measured radius to differ from the current

radius. Thus, the circumference of the circular motion will increase therefore the rubber stopper

will have to travel for a longer distance causing the period of oscillation to increase. This error can

be reduced by using a material of the string that is less elastic, therefore the string will not stretch

a lot.
 3.0 Conclusion:

The aim of this experiment is to show that mass is a factor that affects period of an object moving

in circular motion. The experimental results are in accordance with the hypothesis that the period

of oscillation of the rubber stopper decreases as the mass of the slotted weight increases. By fitting

the experimental data, it is observed that the trend from the graph is the period of oscillation
1
squared (T2) increases linearly with the inverse of the mass of the slotted weight (𝑀) which is in

agreement with the theoretical model. However, the line of best fit does not pass through the origin

as theoretically predicted due to various experimental errors.

𝟏
Graph of T2 against
𝑴