Traction and Force Models: Acceleration of a Freely Falling Body

Kevin Whiteside

The purpose of Part A of the lab is to experimentally and analytically determine net force, which can be considered the vector sum of all forces acting upon a body, including forces such as friction and outside forces acting upon an object, as determined using Newton's Second Law. The purpose of Part B of the lab is to experimentally measure the acceleration of an object due to gravity. Procedures Materials Used: Pencil Graph Paper Traction Model Slotted Weights Weight Hanger Protractor Calculator Spring Scale Pulley Spring Scale Model Computer Picket Fence Science Workshop Program Procedure: In Part A, the scale was re-calibrated to zero before any testing could occur. Then, weight of the object in ounces was calculated using the formula: 16 oz x oz. = 1 lb. 2 lbs. 16 oz (2 lbs.) =x 1 lb. x=32 oz. The lab manual stated that a traction force of two pounds occurred for two days, so weight was added to the weight hanger until the spring scale measured 32 ounces. The final amount added totaled 500 grams. Then, the resultant Force of Weight was calculated using the following formula:

1 kg =.5 kg 1000g (.5 kg )(9.8 m/ s 2)=4.9N (500g ) All of the weight was then removed from the weight hanger. The next weight listed in the lab manual was 2.7 pounds for two days, resulting in an ounce-conversion of: 16 oz =x 1 lb. x=43.2 oz.

(2.7 lbs.)

Weight was added to the weight hanger until the spring scale measured 43.2 ounces, resulting in a final metric measurement of 620 grams, and the following force calculations: 1 kg =.62 kg 1000g (.62 kg )(9.8 m/ s 2)=6.08N (620g) In the second section of Part A, a mass of 500 grams was suspended from a pulley in a spring scale model. Measuring the left spring scale with a protractor, the angle was determined to be 60 degrees. The right spring scale, hanging from the bottom hook, measured 62 degrees. Weights were removed, and 300 grams of weight was added to both the left and right scales. A force diagram of these observations is attached at the end of the document. Part B of this lab began with ensuring the computer was setup correctly, with the picket fence photogate tool being dropped in front of a photogate. Recording the data allowed the computer to analyze the data in graph form. The fence was dropped several times, with differing amounts of acceleration recorded, along with the slope of a graph of velocity with respect to time. Data and Results During the initial section of the lab, the results were counter-intuitive, in that only 500 grams were needed to equal a traction force of 2 pounds, yet 2 pounds in grams would approximate 900 grams. This can be explained by the mechanical advantage gained by using the pulley system.

In Part A, Section Two of the lab, the smaller angle appeared to require a larger force exerted, suggesting an inverse relationship between the angle size and force exertion. In Part B of the lab, the most accurate measure was received when the fence was dropped from right above the photogate. Analysis and Conclusions The purpose of Part A of the lab was to experimentally and analytically determine net force, and the traction model improved the student's understanding of force, which is decreased to half of the total when using pulleys. The spring scale force model also led to an better understanding of force computation using the vector sum equation. Part B emphasized an understanding that earth's gravitational pull is constant for a given location on Earth, and that in our laboratory, it is roughly equal to 9.8 meters per second per second.