Elementary Classic Physics 1 Lab

Lab 3: Forces and Motion

James Albright
Partners: Nicole Diehl Alex Sauder

Section 291
TA: Roshan Timilsina
October 7, 2015

Abstract:
The purpose of this experiment is to examine how force, position, velocity, and
acceleration are all related. In this experiment we performed various task on the
cart while using the PASCO 750 and view how position vs time, velocity vs time,
acceleration vs time, and force vs time graphs either compare or differ when
certain tasks were performed on the cart. The various tasks were pulling the cart
with a spring, pulling the cart back with a spring at a steady speed, pushing the cart
and then pulling it back with the spring, and finally releasing the cart on an
inclined track. The results of this lab were that by knowing the position function of
the cart you could determine the velocity function by taking the first derivative of
position. By knowing the velocity function you can determine the acceleration of
the cart by taking the derivative of velocity or the second derivative of the position
function.

Introduction and Theory:

The reason for doing this experiment was to see firsthand how the four graphs are
related. From Newtons second law of motion, it states the acceleration of an
object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it, and is inversely
proportional to the objects mass. The direction of the acceleration is the
direction of the net force acting on the object. Newtons second law relates the
description of motion (acceleration) to the cause of motion (force). (Giancoli 87)
The equation for Newtons second law of motion is:

F =m a

or F=ma. Where

F is for Force, m is for mass, and a is for acceleration.

In this experiment we tested this equation by measuring the force applied on an
object and the results of force and acceleration. These were all calculated by the
PASCO 750 workshop.

Procedure:
For part one, use the string to pull the cart alone the track, away from the motion
sensor then when that cart is at the end of the track there should be no force
applied. For this part inspect the force-time, position-time, velocity-time, and
acceleration-time graph.

For part two, first sketch what you believe the four graphs should look like before
you start the experiment. After you have sketched the graphs, start the cart at rest
with no force applied, hit tare, then record for about 2 seconds. Then stretch the
spring a constant distance while holding the cart fixed. Finally release the cart but
keep the spring stretched the same amount while pulling it down the track. After
this is done compare the graphs that you drew to the ones on the monitor.
For part three, predict what you think the four graphs should look like when you do
the following experiment: start at rest and press tare and wait 2 seconds, then push
the cart in the direction of the motion sensor, then apply a constant stretch to the
spring in the opposite direction of the motion sensor. After this is done, compare
the graphs you drew to the ones that are on the monitor.
For part four, again predict the four graphs of the following experiment: first you
will need to tilt the track by putting a wooden block under the track by the motion
sensor. Then release the cart so it coasts down the track. After this is done observe
the four graphs and predict what force you have to apply to the cart to achieve a
zero acceleration graph, do this case for the other three graphs as well.
Data and Graphs: see attached sheets for graphs from part 1, 2, 3, and 4.The
predictions for part 2, 3, and 4 are also in the attached sheets.

Calculations and Results:

Answer for part one:
1). Compare the force versus time (f-t) graph with A) position B) velocity, C)
acceleration.
A. The force vs time and position vs time graphs differ greatly. They both
start at zero for about two seconds because the cart was both at zero and had zero
force acting on it. After the two second mark, the position increases because it is
moving away from the starting point and the force is very low if not zero because
the cart is being pulled at a constant force and slowly.
B. The force vs time and velocity vs time graph also differ greatly. They
both begin and end with zero, because the speed is zero when it is still. The force is
zero for the most part, with some bumps in the graph due to human error. The

velocity does increase after the two second mark since the cart is speeding up, and
it goes toward zero at the end of the run since the cart is returning to rest.
C. The force vs time and acceleration vs time graph are very similar. They
are for the most part both constantly zero. There are some bumps and errors in the
graph that are due to human error, most likely from not pulling the cart steady.
2). When the force is equal to zero the acceleration is also equal to zero.
3). from the data, the acceleration vs time graph is proportional to the force vs time
graph.

Answers for part two:

1) The predictions were similar but not the same, some of this may have been
due to errors during the experiment, one error could have been not pulling
the cart at a constant force. The force vs time graph is not the same as the
computed graph. The computed graph goes from negative to positive several
times before reaching the end of the trial
2) None of the graphs were very similar to our predictions but the closest of
our predictions was the position vs time graph. This graph was very similar
with just a different angle.
3) The acceleration is the closest graph that shown a constant value in the
relevant time interval.
Answers for part three:
1) None of the graphs matched the predictions that we made, but the closest to
our prediction was the force vs time graph. The one part that the graphs
differ is at the 5 second mark where the computed graph jumps to positive
values. The predictions we made were positive then negative values.
2) The force vs time graph forms a positive parabola then at 4.5 seconds it
turns to negative. The position graph gradually rise higher in meters, but I
think our graphs in this part are wrong since our motion sensor started acting
up due to technological errors. I feel that the position should have went

negative at some point since it was going in the opposite direction. The
velocity graph goes from zero to positive to slope, constant, and then a
downward slope. The acceleration graph seems to be correct, it goes from
positive slope to negative slope, then negative slope to positive slope. Then
seems to be correct because when you push the cart it should have positive
then negative when you pull the cart back with the spring.
Answer for part four:
1. For part four we switched lab stations because the graphs in part three did
not seem to be correct. It could have been the motion sensor or it could have
been an error due to human errors. Our predictions were very similar to the
computed graphs. The one difference that sticks out is that our graphs for
force and acceleration both started positive and the computed graphs were at
zero.
2. The graphs for position vs time and velocity vs time are nearly the same
except when the cart reaches zero. The position vs time and velocity vs time
are not similar to the acceleration or force graphs. The acceleration and force
graphs are similar but not as close as the position or velocity graphs. The
force graph is constantly zero and the acceleration has a positive toward the
beginning and negative at the end of the carts run.

Conclusions:
The purpose of the lab is to show that position, acceleration, velocity, and force are
all tied together. The results for the most part make sense, except for part three. I
believe that our sensor was messed up during part three of the experiment. Our
results did not seem to makes sense, we believe that there could have been some
human error made, but we think that it was the motion sensor. It seems to have
been the motion sensor because when we switched lab stations the results for part
four seem to be more similar to our predictions and seems to make sense for the
experiment that we were doing.