PHYSICS LABORATORY REPORT

EXPERIMENT 2.1 : MOTION DUE TO STEADY FORCE USING LINEAR AIR TRACK

NAME NRIC GROUP STUDENT ID DATE LECTURER

: : : : : :

NURAINA SAKINA BINTI ZAKRI 951010-11-5076 11SC2 1311171218

MR MOHD AZUAN BIN MOHD AZLAN

INTRODUCTION In this experiment we verified Newtons Second Law by measuring the acceleration of a system subject to a net external force. Newtons second law states that the acceleration a of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on the object and inversely proportional to the objects mass m. Newtons second law can be expressed as an equation using F = ma. The unbalanced force was supplied by a mass falling in the earths gravitational field. Mass M rested on a smooth horizontal air track and was attached to mass m by a light tape passing over a pulley. When the system was released M was pulled along the track by the force supplied by the suspended mass m. The air track and pulley had small openings through which jets of air were ejected to create a nearly frictionless surface. The two masses were connected by a very light recording tape on which marks are made every 1/60 second by a spark timer. We ignored the friction in the pulley as well as the friction between the mass and the air track. Also, the mass of the string was assumed to be negligible. With these assumptions Newtons second law was able to be proved by calculations.

OBJECTIVE To measure velocity and acceleration of a glider using a light gate and LAT APPARATUS/EQUIPMENT Air track, air supply, two cards, two light gates, thread, pulley and slotted mass

PROCEDURE

1. The distance between light gate A and B is measured 2. A 100g mass is attached to the mass holder 3. The air track is switched on and the card on the glider is checked whether it passes through the gates without touching them 4. The length of the cars is measured and the times shown for gate A and B is recorded 5. The positions of the light gates are changed (eg 30cm and 80 cm) and the corresponding times are measured 6. The readings are recorded in the table of results.

ASSUMPTIONS 1. It is assumed that the air track is totally frictionless. 2. It is assumed that the glider accelerates due to gravity only 3. Mass of string is neglible

RESULTS Length of card = 14.4 cm Acceleration (ms-2) a = v2 - u2 2s 0.0199 0.0132 0.0063 0.0016

Position of light gate A (cm) 30 40 50 60

Time t1 (s)

Velocity at A (ms ) 0.9443 1.0884 1.1950 1.4343

-1

Position at light gate B (cm) 80 90 100 110

Time t2 (s)

Velocity at B (ms ) 1.6981 1.5841 1.4328 1.4891

-1

0.1525 0.1323 0.1205 0.1004

0.0848 0.0909 0.1005 0.0967

DISCUSSION 1. If the glider is attached to a ticker tape timer, how the dots on the timer will look on the tape for the above motion? Draw the dots

The separation between the dots increases The velocity increases The object is accelerating

CONCLUSION Objective achieved. For a constant mass, the acceleration is proportional to the applied force