Airplane Group

Materials:

 Digital Scale
 Meter Stick (x2)
 Stopwatch
 Flying airplane
 String (attached to ceiling)

Objective:

Using the equipment to collect data, determine the tension in the support cable when
the object is flying in its circular path.

Procedure

1. Collect all materials.

2. Weigh the airplane and record results.
3. Measure the hypotenuse (The length of the string) and record the number.
4. Set the airplane to fly in a circular path and measure the distance from the airplane to
the ceiling.
5. Once the airplane is flying as high as it can go, find the vertical distance between it and
the ceiling. Record numbers for this as well.
6. Use the numbers obtained (the length of the hypotenuse + the distance to the ceiling)
to find the angle that the airplane is flying at from the vertical.
7. Use ∑FY, and rearrange the formula for FT.

Use the angle of the plane and insert the numbers into the formula. Insert the numbers and
solve for FT.

Data

Mass of airplane: 0.106kg ± 0.0005kg

Length of String: 0.95m ± 0.0005m

Distance from airplane to ceiling: 0.44m ±0.0005m

Conclusion:

We found out that in the end that the tension force of the string acting on the airplane is 2.24 N
and the angle between the vertical to the string was 62.4°. Most importantly, the distance from
the airplane to the ceiling was 0.44m.
 Airplane Group

Sources of error:

Some parts of the flight could have caused there to be larger amounts of tension in the
string than others parts. Measuring the airplane’s distance to the ceiling at a closer height
would create a higher tension force in your calculations. When it is farther from the ceiling, the
calculations would yield a lower tension force.

Improve your results:

We could have determined the center of gravity in the airplane so that we could
measure a more accurate distance from the ceiling. Another option to strive for accuracy would
be to use the frequency equation by using results from a timer.

Extension Question:

So when the airplane is not moving, hanging on the piece of string the tension force
would equal the gravitational force. However, when the plane starts moving in a circular
motion there is an added x component to the net force. There is also a force acting inwards to
keep the plane moving in circular orbit, which is the tension force. As the angular velocity
increases, the tension force of the string would also increase. Thus, if the plane flew at a slower
rate the tension would be less.