UNIFORM CIRCULAR MOTION

I. ACTIVITY LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the activity, you should be able to:
a. Measure the speed and frequency of a rotating body.
b. Determine the relationship between the counter-weight, mass of the object and the
frequency of rotation.

II. MATERIALS
3 Rubber stopper
1 Paper Clip
1 Meter Stick
3 Weights (one 20-g and two 50-g)
1 Hollow Cylinder with Smooth End
1 1.0m long string
1 stopwatch
1 Triple Beam Balance

III. PROCEDURE
At the end of the string, a 50g mass was attached. The length of the string was made 0.30m by
fastening a clip and by moving the tube towards the rubber and paper clip below the opposite end
of the glass. For the radius of 0.50m, the rubber stopper was rotated before and had the time
recorded for the time required at 10 revolutions of the stopper. For the radii 0.35, 0.40, 0.45, 0.50
the steps 2 and 3 was repeated. The experimental value of the centripetal force were recorded along
with its answers.

IV. DATA AND RESULTS

Table 7.1 Variable Mass, Constant Radius (r = 0.50m)
Unit Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5
Counter Mass Kg 68.5 88.5 108.5 128.5 138.5
Time S 6.71 5.89 5.03 4.69 4.43
Frequency Hz 1.490 1.698 1.988 2.132 2.257
 Theoretical Centripetal N 0.671 0.867 1.063 1.259 1.357
Force
Experimental Centripetal N 0.572 0.743 1.018 1.171 1.312
Force
Percent Difference 15.929 15.404 4.325 7.243 3.372

Table 7.2 Variable Radius and Constant Mass (m = 50g)

Unit Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5
Radius M 30 35 40 45 50
Time S 5.12 4.72 4.45 4.76 5.24
Frequency Hz 1.953 2.119 2.247 2.101 1.908
Experimental N 0.588 0.810 1.04 1.023 0.938
Centripetal
Force
Theoretical N 0.672
Centripetal
Force
Average N 0.88
Experimental
Centripetal
Force
Percent N 26.804
Difference

V. GUIDE QUESTIONS FOR ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION

1. By identifying the forces in the centripetal force apparatus, illustrate and discuss the
relationship between the counterweight and the centripetal force.
The counterweight makes the string rotate. The centripetal force is the force that acts here because
the motion is circular. The string makes the counterweight stay on a circular motion.
2. As the mass of the counterweight is increased, what happens to the period of rotation? How
is period related to the mass? Explain your answers.
The period of rotation becomes faster because of the counterweight. The mass acts as the
accelerator to spin.
3. What happens to the time that it takes the object to complete one revolution (period) as the
radius of revolution is increased? How is the period related to the radius? Explain your
answers.
It takes longer because the radius lengthens the path of the rotation.
4. What are the possible sources of error in the experiment? Explain your answers.
Human error: timing, eye-signs, faulty apparatus; inaccurate labelling of weights, lack of
maintenance for the triple beam balance.
5. Propose possible ways to minimize error in the experiment.
By having multiple trials and checking of the apparatus. And more importantly the observers must
be attentive to avoid inaccurate reading of time.