Force and Mass

Physicist Danysha Miller
Group Members:
Physicist Terrell Merrill
Physicist Victoria Brown
4-6-08
11-2


Objective: The objective of this eperi9ment was to test Newton's Second Law again. But this time we needed to figure out if it takes more force to accelerate an ojbect with greater mass.

Hypothesis: I think that it will require more force with a 200g mass to accelerate the Halls's cart.

Materials:
steel rod
piece of string [1m long]
paper clip
Hall's cart
200g mass
washers


Procedure:
1. Tape the steel rod to the edge of a table so that it is directly over the edge. This will act to feduce friction in the experiment.
2.Cut a piece of string 1 meter long. Attach one end of the string to the Hall's cart using a paper clip.
3. Open up a paper clip to form a loop on one end and hook on the other. Tie the loop end of the paper clip to the free end of the string.
4. Put the cart on the table about 3/4 of a meter from the rod and hang the end of the paper clip over the rod. Put the 200g mass in the cart.
5. Add the washers to the paper clip hook one at a time until the cart begins to move. Carefully observe the speed of the cart as it moves along the table. Repeat 4-5 times and record the number of washers used each time.
6. Repeat step 5, but this time double the force by doubling the number. Observe the speed and acceleration of the cart carefully. Repeat several times. Record your results.
7. Repeat step 7, but this time triple the number of washers used in step 5. Observe the speed and acceleration of the cart carefully. Repeat several times. Record your results.


Data:
-SINGLE [100g mass]
Washer[s] 1- No Motion
Washer[s] 2- No Motion
Washer[s] 3- No Motion
Washer[s] 4- No Motion
Washer[s] 5- Moved at a constant speed to the floor.

----SINGLE [200g mass]
Washer[s] 1- No Motion.
Washer[s] 2- No Motion.
Washer[s] 3- Moved A Little.
Washer[s] 4- Moved A Little.
Washer[s] 5- No Motion.
Washer[s] 6- Moved at a constant pace to the floor.

-DOUBLE [100g mass]
Washer[s] 2- No Motion
Washer[s] 4- No Motion
Washer[s] 6- Moved at a slow motion.

----DOUBLE [200g mass]
Washer[s] 2- No Motion.
Washer[s] 4- No Motion.
Washer[s] 6- No Motion.
Washer[s] 8- Moved at a fast pace to the floor.

-TRIPLED [100g mass]
Washer[s] 3- Moved very slowly.
Washer[s] 6- Moved at an constant speed.
Washer[s] 9- Moved very quickly.


----TRIPLED [200g mass]
Washer[s] 3- Moved a little.
Washer[s] 6- Moved at a constant pace to the floor.

Graphs/ Pictures:





Equations:
-f=ma
-1 meter= 39.4 in.


Conclusion: In conclusion my hypothesis was correct. The cart with the 100g mass took less force to accelerate and the cart with the 200g mass weight took more force.