W H A T G O E S A R O U N D C O M E S A R O U N D —P A R T 1

13. Circular Motion 1–Centripetal Force vs. Mass

What Goes Around

Comes Around—Part 1
Student Instruction Sheet

Challenge
Explore the relationship between the centripetal force on an object and the
object’s mass when it moves in uniform circular motion.

Equipment and Materials

• Computer with USB Port
• (2) PASPORT USB interfaces
• PASPORT Force Sensor
• PASPORT Photogate Port
• DataStudio software
• Photogate Head
• Centripetal Force Apparatus
• Multi-Clamp
• Mass and Hanger Set (5 g resolution)
• Power Supply (18V DC, 5A)
• Large Rod Base
• 90 cm Steel Rod
• 45 cm Steel Rod
• Ohaus Triple-beam Balance
• Banana Plug Cord—Red (Set of 5)
• USB hub (optional)
• Student Instruction Sheet—Part 1
• Student Response Sheet—Part 1

Note: If your computer does not have two USB ports, you will
need a USB Hub.

Safety Precautions
Remember, follow the directions for using the equipment.

Background
An object in motion tends to stay in motion in a straight line at a constant speed
if there is no external net force applied to the object. Does an object in circular
motion tend to stay in circular motion if there is no external net force applied to
it?

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A force is required to keep an object in circular motion. Centripetal force is the

force that maintains an object’s circular motion.

Examples of centripetal force include the tension in a string attached to a can

twirled in a circular path, the friction between the road and the tires of a car on
a curve, or the force of gravity pulling a satellite toward the center of Earth as
the satellite moves in a circular orbit.

The magnitude of centripetal force Fc depends on the mass m of the object, its
circular speed v, and the radius r of the circular motion. How does the centripetal
force depend on the mass?

Description
This activity has three parts. In each part you will use the Force Sensor to
measure centripetal force on an object. It is likely each part will take an entire
50 minutes.

• Part 1, keep the radius of the object’s circular path and the speed
constant, but vary the amount of mass. The goal is to determine what
happens to the centripetal force when the mass changes.

• In Part 2, keep the mass and the speed constant, but vary the radius of
the object’s circular path. The goal is to determine what happens to the
centripetal force when the radius of the circular path changes.

• In Part 3, keep the mass and the radius constant, but vary the speed. The
goal is to determine what happens to the centripetal force when the
speed changes.

Predict
Before beginning the eLab, complete the prediction portion of the Student
Response Sheet.

Explore
Computer Setup
1. Plug the PASPORT USB interfaces into the computer’s USB ports or a USB
hub.

2. Plug the Force Sensor into one of the USB

interfaces. This will automatically launch
the PASPortal window.

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3. Plug the Photogate Port into the other USB

interface. Plug the Photogate into the
Photogate Port.

4. Choose the appropriate DataStudio

configuration file entitled

13 Circular Motion 1 CF.ds

Note: Configuration files automatically launch the appropriate

display(s), sampling rate(s), etc.

Equipment Setup
1. Set up the Centripetal Force Apparatus with the Large Rod Base, support
rods, and Multi-Clamp as shown.

horizontal rod
Multi-Clamp
Force Sensor

swivel attachment

support rod

Centripetal
Force Apparatus

Photogate
Head

power supply
Large Rod
Base

2. Place the Force Sensor on the horizontal rod (and remove the hook from the
sensor if necessary). Screw the swivel attachment into the end of the Force
Sensor and attach the wire to the swivel.

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3. Mount the Photogate Head to the threaded post on the base of the
Centripetal Force Apparatus. (See the photo.)

4. Make sure the power supply is off and then connect patch cords from the
power supply to the jacks on the back of the Centripetal Force Apparatus.

5. Use the adjustable feet on the Large Rod Base to level the apparatus.

Remember: you will be required to zero the Force Sensor prior to

each run of data. You should always zero the sensor in the
orientation in which it will be used.

Record Data

Part 1: Keep Radius and Speed Constant—Vary the Mass

1. Measure and record the total mass of a 20-g (0.020 kg) mass plus all the
hardware that is used to attach an object to the rotating arm of the
Centripetal Force Apparatus on the Student Response Sheet.

2. Use the thumbscrew and other hardware on the apparatus to attach the 20-g
mass to the wire and the rotating arm. Make sure that the mass is able to slide
freely in the slot. Adjust the thumbscrew and hardware if necessary.

3. Move the Force Sensor rod up or down so the center of the freely sliding 20-
g mass has a radius of 5 cm (0.050 m).

4. To balance the rotating arm, attach another 20-g mass on the other side of
the platform as a counterweight. Position this non-sliding 20-g mass so its
center is also 5 cm from the center of the rotating arm.

5. Press the zero button on the Force Sensor.

6. In DataStudio on the Experiment menu, click Monitor

Data.
zero
7. Turn on the power supply and adjust the voltage until button
the velocity shown in the Velocity digits display
reaches exactly 2.0 m/s.

8. Click the Stop ( ) button. Then click the Start ( ) button to

begin recording data. Let the apparatus spin for about 30 seconds.

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9. Click the Stop button and then turn off the power supply.

10. For the second run, add an additional 20-g (0.020 kg) mass to the freely
sliding mass and the non-sliding mass. Measure and record the mass on the
Student Response Sheet, and repeat the data recording procedure (steps 5
through 9).

Remember: record the total mass of the object (the two 20-g
masses plus the hardware).

11. For the third and fourth runs, repeat the process for 60 g and then for 70 g.

Analyze
Use your graph of force versus time to determine the centripetal force for each
run as follows:

1. In DataStudio, find the Force v. Mass table. Enter the total mass of the
object for Run #1 under the Mass column.

2. On the Force versus

Time graph display, use
the Zoom Select tool
( ) to highlight the
appropriate data points
for determining the
mean Force for Run #1
(the mean Force value
will be listed in the
graph’s Legend box as
shown in the example).

3. In DataStudio, record the mean force value on

the Force v. Mass table. Also record the mean
force on the Student Response Sheet.

Note: As you enter values into the Force v.

Mass Table, they should also appear in the
Force v. Mass graph.

4. Repeat Steps 1 through 3 for Runs #2 through

#4.

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5. In DataStudio, examine your Force v. Mass graph.

• Click the Fit ( ) menu button and choose an appropriate selection

from the menu.

6. Save your DataStudio file (on the File menu, click Save Activity As...) to the
location specified by your teacher.

7. Answer the questions and define the vocabulary words on the Student
Response Sheet for Part 1.

8. Follow your teacher’s instructions regarding cleaning up your work space.

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Student Response Sheet

Name:__________________________________

Date:_______________________________

What Goes Around Comes Around—Part 1

Vocabulary
Use available resources to find the definitions of the following terms:

centripetal force: ______________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

uniform circular motion:__________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

Predict
1. What do you need to know about an object in order to calculate the amount of
centripetal force used to maintain the object in circular motion?

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

2. How do you think centripetal force on an object changes if the mass of the
object increases?

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

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Data
Force v. Mass Table

Run # Mass (kg) Mean

Force (N)
1
2
3
4

Make a sketch of your Force v. Mass Graph.

Force v. Mass Graph

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Analyze

1. How well does the Fit selection you made match your Force v. Mass data on the
graph?

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

Synthesize

1. What can you conclude about relationship of centripetal force on an object to

the object’s mass when the object is in uniform circular motion?

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

2. If other variables are kept constant for an object in uniform circular motion
and the mass of the object is doubled, what must happen to the centripetal
force in order to maintain the circular motion?

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

3. Do your results support your predictions?

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

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