Physics Lab 6-1

Raquel Spencer November 9,12 Physics Lab 6-1

What keeps the stopper moving in a circle?

Objectives: To relate the variables involved in uniform circular motion. To operate a lab setup with
the three variables that requires active involvement to maintain one variable constant. And nally, to justify the method of using many revolutions in a centripetal force experiment to reduce the effect of random error.

Hypothesis: I hypothesize that if the mass and circular velocity remain constant, increasing the radius
will decrease the force, and vice versa.

Materials:
graph paper nylon strong paper clip rubber stopper w/ hole spring scale stopwatch table clamp PVC tube or wooden spool small washer(s)

Procedure: In this lab, we will use the setup shown on our worksheet to test the relationships between
the speed of a stopper in uniform circular motion, the radius of the stoppers circular path, and centripetal force. In order to study the cause-and-effect relationships between these three variables, we must hold one variable constant while controlling the change of a second variable to determine the effect on the third variable. At rst, we will perform one experiment with a constant radius while varying the speed. The nal experiment will test how speed varies when centripetal force is constant and radius is increased.

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Data & Calculations m= 11.7g stopper & 5.1g washer Table 1 constant radius and variable speed Data Run 1 2 3 Spring Force 2 4 6 Number of Revs 30 30 30 Time 11.25 5.28 3.75 Radius .175 m .175 m .175 m Stopper speed 2.932 m/s 6.25 m/s 8.796 m/s Centripetal Acceleration 49.1 m/s2 223 m/s2 442 m/s2

Table 2 constant force and variable radius Data Run 1 2 3 Calculations Spring Force 4 4 4 Number of Revs 30 30 30 Time 7.05 9.48 10.41 Radius .30 m .16 m .12 m Stopper speed 8.02 m/s 3.18 m/s 2.17 m/s Centripetal Acceleration 214 m/s2 61 m/s2 39 m/s2

They are on a separate piece of paper.

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Conclusion: Through our observations based upon this lab, we can conclude from our data that centripetal force and speed are directly proportional. For example, when we spun our stopper at a speed of 8.02 m/s our centripetal acc. was 214 m/s^2, and when we decreased the speed to 3.18 m/s our centripetal acc. was 61 m/s^2. In out rst experiment we tested using constant radius and variable speed. From that experiment we can conclude that when one has a constant variable such as .175 m but one supplies more force, the speed increases and the centripetal acceleration increases dramatically (from 49 to 442). In our second experiment we tested using constant force and variable radius. We decreased our radius each trial and therefore, decreasing the time, stopper speed, and centripetal acceleration. My hypothesis was if mass and circular velocity remain constant, increasing the radius will decrease the force exerted by the massed abject, and vice versa. This doesnt pertain to our results because we never observed a constant speed. However, from the experiment I can infer that if I did have a constant mass and velocity, and I increased the radius, the force would decrease. Mathematically this makes sense when we look at the equation a=v^2/r if r decreases, a will increase to compensate. When we decrease the radius we are accelerating it more towards the center. If we want to increase the radius of the circle, we will let loose the string, decrease the force, decrease the acceleration. In conclusion, this lab was thorough in showing trends of cpentripetal motion and showing the relationship between force, time, radius, speed, and centripetal acceleration. Spiritual Application In our lab we observed that increasing the radius decreases the acceleration and decreasing the radius increases the acceleration. We can see this in our relationship with God as well. As we allow ourselves to become farther and farther from Him, we tend to have less acceleration, less drive, less sense of purpose. As we get closer to him we nd that acceleration that we couldnt obtain when we were so far from Him.