ATWOOD MACHINE

Mentari Tahir*), Sitti Aminah, Sri Agustini, Tri Adianto

Physics Laboratory Department of Physics Mathematics and Science Faculty
State University of Makassar

Abstract. Experiment about Atwood Machine had been conducted. Equipments and materials were
used of the experiment atwood machine which consists of pole with R scale and a pulley on its top,
hanger rope which mass can be ignored, two cylinder mass M1 and M2 with each mass M which is
bound at the ends of the rope, two additional loads each mass 1 , G grip with spring, load holder B
and holder A of additional loads which hollows, Ohauss balance 310 grams, and time sensors. From
the experiment can be seen the validity of Newtons laws for translation and rotation motion also can
determined the inertia moment of the pulley.

KEY WORD : Newtons law, rotation motion, translation motion, and inertia moment.

INTRODUCTION
In 1678 Sir Isaac Newton's first law of motion states, which now known as Newton's
I law, Newton's law states "An object at rest will move straight or irregular when the
resultant force acting on an object is equal to zero". Mathematically, Newton's law is
expressed by the equation F = 0. Style concept and mass described by Newton's I law,
Newton's I law that reveal about the nature of objects that tend to maintain the situation. This
nature called inertia. Therefore, Newton's I law is also called the Law of Inertia.
In Newtons II law sound Each object is subjected to force it will experience
acceleration proportional to the magnitude of the force and inversely proportional to the
magnitude of the mass of the object. By this experiment wanted to prove the validity of
Newtons law in atwood machine also determined the inertia moment of the pulley.

THEORY
In this section we will study two kinds of motion is linear motion and rotational
motion, the cause of motion and Newton's laws of truth will be reviewed. At first people
thought that the nature of the object is stationary. So that the object was moving it should
continue to be external forces either pull or push, but after Galileo's experiment turns and
famous opinion about Galileo or more basic principle known as Newton's First Law.
Newton's first law shows that the nature of the inertial properties of objects, but not
quantitatively defined.
Based on the experimental and intuitive nudge from Newton's first law, Newton has
formulated Newton's Second Law, which defines mass quantitatively, and show style
relationship with the motion of objects quantitatively anyway. One of the conclusions of
Newton's second law is if the force remains the object will experience acceleration over
anyway, hence the equations of motion can be derived in the form of the other. Furthermore,
if observed, it is the result of the interaction force between two objects as well as having
certain properties. This trait was first proposed by Newton in law III Newton as the law of
Action-Reaction. [1]

When a pulley can only rotate on its axis is silent, then the motion can be analyzed
as follows:
Translational motion

F 0
-T1 mg T2 + N = 0

(1)

Rotation motion

I
N

-T1 R + T2 R = I

(2)

I =1/2 MpulleyR2

(3)

mg

T1

T2

with a tangential acceleration of a pulley edge, this acceleration equal to the acceleration of
the hanger strap wrapped around the pulley without slipping. When an object is hung on a
string like the following picture, then the acceleration of the object is:

T2

T1

T2

T1

M2
m
M1
(m+M1)g

M2 g

a=

(m M 1) M 2
g
m M1 M 2 I / R2

(4)

EXPERIMENT METHOD
Experiment about atwood machine need tools and material such as ohauss balance
310 gr, it used to measure the distance between one point to another point such as from the
point A to Point B. The LSV of meteran is 0.01 cm. The next is stopwatch, it used to
measure the time takes when the obeject make a movement. The next tools rectilinear motion
is ractilinear motion tube, it used to do the second activity, it as the main tools because the
bubble of the tube becomes the object that measure the movement of that object. Then statif
used to hang the rctilinear tube. And the last is the tools of write, it used to note the result
that has been takes.
The first activity of that experiment is using the friends as object to observe. For the
first we are make the square way, and make a point, each point of square, we are give point
A, B, C, D. Then we are measure the distance each point. Then we observace the object
when walked from the point A to B. We are measure the time is taken. Then it repeat for the
next object but with the different velocity. For the same step the object walked again with the
different distance like from A to B to A. Then we are measure the distance of the object by
meteran and we are measure also the movement of the object. We repeat again the step until
the displacement of the object is A to B to C to D to A.
The second activity is using a stativ and rectilinear tube, firstly we are hang the end
of rectilinear tube on the statve then we ar measure the height of the end of rectilinear tube
that hang of the statif for 5 cm from buttom. Then we are
The control variable is distance of he point,it measure by meters. the manipulation
varaible for the first activity are distance and movement. Distanc is displacement is a value
change in the position of the object from the initial position to the final position, and distance
is the total length of the path traversed objects. we measure the displacement and distance by
meters that has LSV 0.05 cm. And the respon variable is Time, that a time is take to pass a
point. It measure by stopwatch that has LSV 0.2 s.
EXPERIMENT RESULT AND DATA ANALYSIS
Mass M1

: |0.06345 0.00001| kg

Massa M2

: |0.06345 0.00001| kg

Mass m

: |0.00425 0.00001| kg

Mass of Pulley (M)

: |0.06443 0.00001| kg

Radius of Pulley (R)

: |0.0600 0.0005| m

Activity 1. Motion C to A
Table 2.1 Relationship between distance XCA (m) to tCA (s)
NO

xCA (m)

|0.7100 0.0005|

|0.6400 0.0005|

tCA (s)
|2.918 0.001|
|2.901 0.001|
|2.894 0.001|
|2.699 0.001|
|2.665 0.001|
|2.694 0.001|

|0.5830 0.0005|

|0.5290 0.0005|

|0.3820 0.0005|

Activity 2. Motion A to B
Table 2.2 Relationship between XAB (m) to tAB (s)
NO
XAB (m)
1

|0.7160 0.0005|

|0.6500 0.0005|

|0.5480 0.0005|

|0.4750 0.0005|

|0.3880 0.0005|

|2.520 0.001|
|2.491 0.001|
|2.491 0.001|
|2.331 0.001|
|2.336 0.001|
|2.324 0.001|
|1.989 0.001|
|1.959 0.001|
|1.944 0.001|

tAB (s)
|2.647 0.0001|
|2.639 0.0001|
|2.638 0.0001|
|2.465 0.0001|
|2.442 0.0001|
|2.414 0.0001|
|2.028 0.0001|
|2.031 0.0001|
|2.014 0.0001|
|1.695 0.0001|
|1.679 0.0001|
|1.684 0.0001|
|1.327 0.0001|
|1.307 0.0001|
|1.337 0.0001|

GRAPH ANALYSIS
Activity 1. Motion C to A
0.8
0.7

Distance (m)

0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0

0.5

1.5

2
Time (s)

2.5
3
3.5
y = 0.3465x - 0.2895
R = 0.9953

Graph 1 : The relationship between distance and time for trajectory C to A

=
a = 0.346 m/s2
DC = R2 x 100%
DC = 0.995 x 100% = 99.5 %
RE = 100% DC = 100% 99.5 % = 0.5 %
a = RE a
a = 0.5 % x 0.346 = 0.00173 m/s 2

a = |a a| m/s2
a = |0. 346 0.002|m/s2

Activity 2. Motion A to B
0.8
0.7

Distance (m)

0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0

0.5

1.5
Time (s)

2.5
y = 0.2442x + 0.0613
R = 0.9968

Graph 2 : The relation between distance and time for trajectory A to B

=
v = 0.244 m/s 2
DC = R2 x 100%
DC = 0.996 x 100% = 99.6 %
RE = 100% DC = 100% 99.6 % = 0.4 %
v = RE v
v = 0.4 % x 0.244 = 0.000976 m/s 2

v = |a v| m/s2
v = |0. 244 0.001|m/s2

DATA ANALYSIS
Activity 1. Motion C to A
Calculation of time
+ +
1.
1 = 1 32 3
2.918 + 2.901 + 2.894
=

= 2.904
1 = |1
1 | = |2.918 2.904| s = 0.014 s
2 = |2
1 | = |2.901 2.904|s = 0.003 s
3 = |3
1 | = |2.894 2.904|s = 0.010 s
1 = = 0.014
RE =

0.014

= 2.904 100% = 0.482 %

1 = |2.904 0.014|s
+ +
2.
2 = 1 32 3
2.699 + 2.665 + 2.694
=

= 2.686
1 = |1
2 | = |2.699 2.686| s = 0.013 s
2 = |2
2 | = |2.665 2.686|s = 0.021 s
3 = |3
2 | = |2.694 2.686|s = 0.008 s
2 = = 0.021

0.021

2
RE =
= 2.686 100% = 0.781%

2 = |2.686 0.021|s
+ +
3.
3 = 1 2 3
3
2.520 + 2.491 + 2.491
=

= 2.501
1 = |1
3 | = |2.520 2.501| s = 0.019 s
2 = |2
3 | = |2.491 2.501|s = 0.010 s

3 = |3
3 | = |2.491 2.501|s = 0.010 s
3 = = 0.010

0.010

3
RE =
= 2.501 100% = 0.4 %

3 = |2.501 0.010|s
+ +
4.
4 = 1 32 3
2.331 + 2.336 + 2.324
=

= 2.330
1 = |1
4 | = |2.331 2.330| s = 0.001 s
2 = |2
4 | = |2.336 2.330|s = 0.006 s
3 = |3
4 | = |2.324 2.330|s = 0.006 s
4 = = 0.006
=

0.006
2.330

100% = 0.258 %

4 = |2.330 0.006|s
+ +
5.
5 = 1 32 3

1.989 + 1.959 + 1.944

= 1.964
1 = |1
5 | = |1.989 1.964| s = 0.025 s
2 = |2
5 | = |1.959 1.964|s = 0.005 s
3 = |3
5 | = |1.944 1.964|s = 0.020 s
5 = = 0.025
=

0.025

= 1.964 100% = 1.27 %

5 = |1.964 0.025|s
Calculation of acceleration
x = Vo . t +
a =

2
2

1 2

1. 1 =

1.42
8.433

= 0.168 2

2. 2 =

1.28
7.214

= 0.177 2

3. 3 =

1.166
6.255

= 0.178 2

4. 4 =

1.058
5.429

= 0.195 2

5. 5 =

0.764
3.857

= 0.198 2

1 + 2 + 3 +4 + 5
5
(0.169 + 0.173 + 0.170 + 0.169 + 0.198)/
= 0.183 2
5

Uncertainty of acceleration
1.

1 =

4 2
2

. 1

(0.0005)2 4(0.014)2
=
+
0.168 / 2
(0.710)2
(2.904)2
= 0.000000495 + 0.00009296 0.168 / 2
= 0.000093455 0.168 / 2
= 0.009667 0.168 / 2
= 0.00162 /2
=

1
1

100% =

0.00162
0.168

100% = 0.96 %

= 100% = 100% 0.96 % = 99.04%

1 = |0.1680 0.0016|/ 2
2.

2 =

4 2
2 2

(0.0005)2
(0.640)2

. 2

4 (0.021)2
(2.686)2

0.177 / 2

= 0.00000061 + 0.0002445 0.177 / 2

= 0.00024411 0.177 / 2
= 0.0156 0.177 / 2
= 0.00276 /2

2
2

100% =

0.00276
0.177

100% = 1.56 %

= 100% = 100% 1.56 % = 98.44%

2 = |0.177 0.003|/ 2
3.

3 =

4 2
3 2

. 3

(0.0005)2 4 (0.010)2
=
+
0.178 / 2
(0.583)2
(2.501)2
= 0.000000735 + 0.0000639 0.178 / 2
= 0.000064635 0.178 / 2
= 0.008 0.178 / 2
= 0.0014 /2
=

3
3

100% =

0.0014
0.177

100% = 0.79%

= 100% = 100% 0.79 % = 99.21%

3 = |0.1770 0.0014|/ 2
4.

4 =

4 2
4 2

. 4

(0.0005)2 4 (0.006)2
=
+
0.195 / 2
(0.529)2
(2.330)2
= 0.00000089 + 0.0000265 0.195 / 2
= 0.00002739 0.195 / 2
= 0.0052 0.195 / 2
= 0.001 /2
=

4
4

0.001

100% = 0.195 100% = 0.51 %

= 100% = 100% 0.51% = 99.49 %

4 = |0.195 0.001|/ 2

5 =

5.

4 2
5 2

. 5

(0.0005)2 4 (0.025)2
=
+
0.198 / 2
(0.382)2
(1.964)2
= 0.0000017 + 0.000648 0.198 / 2
= 0.0006497 0.198 / 2
= 0.0255 0.198 / 2
= 0.005 /2
=

5
5

0.005

100% = 0.198 100% = 2.5 %

= 100% = 100% 2.5% = 97.5 %

5 = |0.198 0.005|/ 2

= |

1 2 3 4 5
+
+
+
+
|
1
2
3
4
5

= |0.0016 + 0.003 +

0.168
0.177

0.0014
0.178

0.001

0.005

+ 0.195 + 0.198| m/s2

= |0.0095 + 0.0169 + 0.00786 + 0.00513 + 0.0252| / 2

= 0.0129 / 2
a = |0.183 0.013|/ 2

Calculation for moment of inertia

=[

2] 2
a

1. 1 = [ a 2] 2
1

=[

(0.00425) .9.8
0.168

0.00425 2 (0.06443)] (0.06)2

= [0.2479 0.00425 0.12886] 0.0036

= 0.0004132 2

2. 2 = [ a 2] 2
2

(0.00425) .9.8
[ 0.177

0.00425 2 (0.06443)] (0.06)2

= [0.2353 0.00425 0.12886] 0.0036

= 0.0003679 2
3. 3 = [
=[

a3

2] 2

(0.00425) .9.8
0.178

0.00425 2 (0.06443)] (0.06)2

= [0.234 0.00425 0.12886] 0.0036

= 0.000363 2

4. 4 = [ a 2] 2
4

=[

(0.00425) .9.8
0.195

0.00425 2 (0.06443)] (0.06)2

= [0.2136 0.00425 0.12886] 0.0036

= 0.0002898 2

5. 5 = [ a 2] 2
5

=[

(0.00425) .9.8
0.198

0.00425 2 (0.06345)] (0.06)2

= [0.2104 0.00425 0.12886] 0.0036

= 0.000278 2

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5
5
(0.0004132 + 0.0003679 + 0.000363 + 0.0002898 + 0.000278) 2
5

= 0.0003424 2
The uncertainty of the moment of inertia
(31 + 1)2 + |((2 + 1 )21 (2 + + 1 )2)| +
|
|((2 + + 1 ) 2 2 )

=
(

( + 1 )
(( 2
(2 + + 1 )) 2 )

=
(

3 x 9.8
+1)(0.06)2
0.183

2 x 9.8
0.06345+
0.06345+
x 0.00001+|((
)
0.06(
)2 x 0.06)0.0005|
0.004250.06345 0.183
0.00425+0.06345
9.8

+ |((0.06345+0.00425+0.06345)(0.183)2 (0.06)2 ) 0.0129 |

0.000

(0.06345+0.004250.06345)9.8
(0.06345+0.00425+0.06345))(0.06)2 )
0.183

((

3424
(

29.4 +0.183
)(0.0036)x 0.00001+|((0.00425 x 6.426) (0.13115 x 0.12)0.0005|
0.183

=(

+ |(0.13115 x 0.10535)0.0129|
((

(0.00425)9.8
0.13115) 0.0036)
0.183

(161.66 x 0.000000036)+|(0.0273 0.015738)0.0005|

+ |0.01382|0.0129
(
)0.0003424
(0.096446 x 0.0036)

0.00000581976 + 0.000005781 +0.000178278

)0.0003424
0.0003472

= (

= 0.000187 2

0.000187
100% =
100% = 54.6 %

0.0003424
= 100% = 100% 54.6% = 45.84 %
=

= | |2
= |0.0003424 0.000187| 10-4 2
= |3.4 1.9| 10-4 2

Search of moment inersia (Theory)

1

I = 2 2
1

I = 2 (0.06443)(0.06)2 kg. m2
= 0.032125 (0.0036) kg. m2
= 0.000116 kg m2

)0.0003424

Activity 2. Motion A to B
Search for the time
1 +2 +3
2.647+2.639 +2.638
1.
=
= 2.641
1 =
3
3
1 = |1
1 | = |2.647 2.641| s = 0.006 s

2 = |2
1 | = |2.639 2.641|s = 0.002 s
3 = |1
1 | = |2.638 2.641|s = 0.003 s s
1 = = 0.006 s

1
RE =
=

0.006
2.641

100% = 0.23%

1 = |2.641 0.006 |
1 +2 +3
2.465 +2.442+2.414
2.
=
= 2.440
2 =
3
3
1 = |1
2 |= |2.465 2.440| = 0.025 s

2 = |2
2 |= |2.442 2.440|s = 0.002 s
3 = |1
2 |= |2.414 2.440| s = 0.026 s
2 = = 0.026 s

0.026

2
RE =
= 2.440 100% = 1.06 %

2 = |2.440 0.026|s
1 +2 +3
2.028+2.031+2.014
3.
=
= 2.024
3 =
3
3
1 = |1
3 |= |2.028 2.024|s = 0.004 s

2 = |2
3 |= |2.031 2.024|s = 0.007 s
3 = |1
3 |= |2.014 2.024|s = 0.010 s
3 = = 0.010 s
RE =

0.010
2.024

100% = 0.49 %

3 = |2.024 0.010 | s
1 +2 +3
1.695+1.679+1.684
4.
=
= 1.686
4 =
3
3
1 = |1
4 |= |1.695 1.686|s = 0.009 s

2 = |2
4 |= |1.679 1.686|s = 0.007 s
3 = |1
4 |= |1.684 1.686|s = 0.002 s
4 = = 0.009 s
RE =

0.009

= 1.686 100% = 0.53 %

4 = |1.686 0.009 |s

1 +2 +3
1.327+1.307+1.337
5.
=
= 1.324
5 =
3
3
1 = |1
5 |= |1.327 1.324|s = 0.003 s

2 = |2
5 |= |1.307 1.324|s = 0.017 s
3 = |1
5 |= |1.337 1.324|s = 0.013 s
5 = = 0.017 s
5

RE =

0.017
1.324

100% = 1.28%

5 = |1.324 0.017|s
Search for velocity
=

0.716

1. 1 = 2.641 = 0.271
0.650

2. 2 = 2.440 = 0.266
0.548

3. 3 = 2.024 = 0.270
0.475

4. 4 = 1.686 = 0.282
5.

0.388

5 = 1.323 = 0.293
=

0.271 + 0.266 + 0.270 + 0.282 + 0.293

= 0.276
5

Uncertainty of velocity
2 2
= 2 + 2 .

1. 1 =
=

+ 2 . 1
1

(0.0005)2
(0.716)2

(0.005)2
(2.641 )2

0.271/

0.00000025
0.000025
+

0.512656
6.976642

0.271 /

= 0.002011 0.271 /
= 0.000545 /
1
0.000545
100% =
100% = 0.201 %
1
0.271
= 100% = 100% 0.201 % = 99.799%
=

1 = |0.2710 0.0005|/

2. 2 =
=

+ 2 . 2
2

(0.0005)2
(0.650)2

(0.024)2
(2.440)2

0.266 /

0.00000025
0.000576
+ 5.95522
0.4225

0.266 /

= 0.00009731 0.266 /
= 0.00986 0.266 /
= 0.002626 /
2
0.002626
100% =
100% = 0.986 %
2
0.266
= 100% = 100% 0.986 % = 99.014%
=

2 = |0.2660 0.0026|/
2

3. 3 =

+ 2 . 3
3

(0.0005)2

(0.010)2

= (0.548)2 + (2.024)2 0.270 /

0.00000025 0.00010
=
+
0.270 /
0.300304
4.097925
= 0.00002523 0.270 /
= 0.005 0.270 /
= 0.00135 /
1
0.00135
100% =
100% = 0.5 %
1
0.270
= 100% = 100% 0.5 % = 99.5 %
=

3 = |0.2700 0.0014|/
2

4. 4 =
=

+ 2 . 4
4

(0.0005)2
(0.475)2

(0.009)2

+ (1.686)2 0.282 /

0.00000025 0.00081
=
+
0.282 /
0.225625
2.842
= 0.0000296 0.282 /
= 0.0054 0.282 /
= 0.00152 /
1
0.00152
100% =
100% = 0.54 %
1
0.282
= 100% = 100% 0.54 % = 99.46%
=

4 = |0.2817 0.0015|/

5. 5 =
=

+ 2 . 5
5

(0.0005)2
(0.388)2

(0.016)2
(1.323667)2

0.293 /

0.00000025 0.000256
=
+
0.293 /
0.150544
1.752093
= 0.000147772 0.293 /
= 0.0122 0.293 /
= 0.00357/
1
0.00357
100% =
100% = 1.22 %
1
0.293
= 100% = 100% 1.22 % = 98.78 %
5 = |0.293 0.004|/
=

= |

1 2 3 4 5
+
+
+
+
|
1
2
3
4
5

= |

0.000545 0.002626
0.00135 0.00152
+
+
+
0.271
0.266
0.270
0.282

0.00357
|
0.293

m/s2

= |0.002 + 0.00099 + 0.005 + 0.0054 + 0.0122| 0.276 m/s2

= 0.02559 0.276 /
= 0.00706 /
= |0.276 0.007|
DISCUSSION
From the experiment had been conducted can be seen that the acceleration after
calculated the experiment result is different with the graph. The acceleration based from
graph is 0.346 ms 2 while based from data analyze the result is 0.183ms 2 . This difference
is not too far and the difference of the result might be caused by some internal or external
factors.
The next is about moment of inertia, the moment inertia got some difference caused
by some factors such as the condition of the pulley is not too good. When we pressed the G
grip sometimes the mass on top had not in good position already. And sometimes we repeat
some steps in order to get result which is not too far from the previous result.
CONCLUSION
From the experiment had been conducted can be concluded that Atwood machine is
applied the Newtons I and II laws. When the mass moved it would moved accelerated and
when the additional mass was held, the mass would moved straight uniformly from A to B.
After calculate the acceleration the moment of inertia can be determined by applied the
acceleration into the equation.
REFERENCE
[1] Tim Dosen Fisika Dasar 1. 2013. Penuntun Fisika Dasar - Laboratorium Fisika Unit
Praktikum Fisika Dasar. Makassar.