Uniform Circular Motion

PES 115 Report

Objective
Thepurposeofthisexperimentistodeterminetherelationshipsbetweenradiuses,mass,
velocityandcentripetalforceofaspinningbody.Weusedloggerprotoaccurately
measuretheorbitalperiodofthespinningmassandusedthesemeasurementsto
determinetheinterrelatedinteractionsofthespecifiedpropertiesandviewedtheresults
graphically.

DataandCalculations

The black markings on the string are about 10 cm apart in length, measured from the
center of the spinning mass.

PartA:FactorsthatinfluenceCircularMotion
VelocityversuseCentripetalForce
*0 Fill out the table holding the Spinning mass (M) and the radius (R) constant.

UCM1

Figure 1: Experimental setup for the lab

Which Spinning Mass did you select _hook with foam wrapping_ (Tennis ball, etc..)
What is the mass of the Spinning mass _0.0283_ kg.
What Radius did you select _0.30_ m (around 20 cm is a good choice).

Fill out the tables for five different hanging mass values.
0.1001 kg

0.1992 kg

0.2992 kg

0.4000 kg

0.4997 kg

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

0.61337 s
0.613087 s
0.613727 s
0.611319 s
0.618954 s
0.589000 s
0.572337 s
0.567165 s
0.553799 s

0.413210 s
0.403737 s
0.393689 s
0.39364 s
0.388600 s
0.386300 s
0.393600 s
0.409900 s
0.417200 s

0.367288 s
0.370600 s
0.374100 s
0.368047 s
0.365853 s
0.367541 s
0.375694 s
0.376971 s
0.372394 s

0.316510 s
0.310189 s
0.316308 s
0.309619 s
0.300742 s
0.294794 s
0.297564 s
0.299070 s
0.307155 s

0.271455 s
0.274200 s
0.273700 s
0.279400 s
0.282000 s
0.286041 s
0.286679 s
0.285880 s
0.288500 s

10

0.549274 s

0.418100 s

0.363807 s

0.299924 s

0.285612 s

0.590204 s

0.41083 s

0.370230 s

0.304845 s

0.281347 s

3.19 m/s

4.69 m/s

5.09 m/s

6.18 m/s

6.70 m/s

Revolution Number and Time per Revolution (T) [sec]

Hanging Mass (m) [kg]

Average Time per Revolution

(T) [sec]
Calculate the Speed (v) [m/s]

Show an Example Calculation Here

Determining the speed:
v

2 0.3 m
R 3.19 m
2
v
0.590204Ts
s

UCM2

By re-

examining the figure above, we can see that the forces are equal due to the connection of
the tensile forces though the string.
F1 F2 centripetal force
F1 mg

F1 0.1001 kg 9.81 2 0.981981 N

s

F1 F2 centripetal force 0.981981 N

*1 Consolidate all your previous data in one nice and neat table.

Radius (m)
0.30 m
0.30 m
0.30 m
0.30 m
0.30 m

Spinning
mass (kg)
0.0283 kg
0.0283 kg
0.0283 kg
0.0283 kg
0.0283 kg

Hanging Mass
Centripetal
(kg) x9.8 Force (N)
0.1001 kg

- 0.981981 N

0.1992 kg

- 1.954152 N

0.2992 kg

- 2.935152 N

0.4000 kg
0.4997 kg

- 3.92400 N
- 4.902057 N

UCM3

Speed
v (m/s)

Speed2
v2 (m2/s2)

3.19 m/s
4.69 m/s

10.1761 m2/s2

5.09 m/s
6.18 m/s
6.70 m/s

21.9961 m2/s2
25.9081 m2/s2
38.1924 m2/s2
44.8900 m2/s2

What can you conclude about the relationship between the speed and the centripetal
force? A graph would be very helpful here to see any trends.

People can usually recognize a linear relationship, we dont often think in terms of
quadratic relationships. For that reason, we usually try to plot graphs in such a way
that the graph should appear linear. This may mean changing the form of what we are
plotting from lets say v to v2. From your data table, is it more likely that a straightline graph will be achieved by plotting Fcent against v or v2? Plot both on the same
graph and discuss their implications.

Using the table above, we shall plot the centripetal force versus the velocity and the
centripetal force versus the velocity-squared.
v

2 R Speed:
T

Showoneexampleofacalculation.

UCM4

The graph of Force versus Velocity-squared produces the most linear result.
By analyzing both the graphs above, we can see that as velocity increases, so does the
centripetal force. This means that velocity and force are directly related. This is further
reinforced by the equation of centripetal force:

Notice that if we plot Force on the y-

Mv 2
r
F
R

axis and v-squared on the x-axis, this is effectively a straight line:

compared to

F slopey v2 mx
ybi ntercept

The variance in the data is most likely due to a variable tilt on the system due to the
acceleration due to gravity.

UCM5

VelocityversuseSpinningMass

Fill out the table for four different spinning mass values holding the hanging mass
(Centripetal force) and the radius constant.
0.0283 kg

0.0338 kg

0.0425 kg

0.0597 kg

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

0.335436s
0.345177 s
0.345790 s
0.341797 s
0.344900 s
0.345528 s
0.338092 s
0.341980 s
0.343600 s

0.352764 s
0.356300 s
0.355410 s
0.351290 s
0.348822 s
0.346520 s
0.341358 s
0.334109 s
0.329102 s

0.359099s
0.347119 s
0.345707 s
0.343074 s
0.351000 s
0.351700 s
0.353498 s
0.371901 s
0.327260 s

0.418771 s
0.417716 s
0.414485 s
0.416000 s
0.420500 s
0.421500 s
0.413144 s
0.419256 s
0.408700 s

10

0.340333 s

0.320019 s

0.366474 s

0.397500 s

0.342263 s

0.345570 s

0.356230 s

0.414757 s

5.51 m/s

5.45 m/s

5.29 m/s

4.54 m/s

Revolution Number and Time per Revolution (T) [sec]

Hanging Mass (m) [kg]

Average Time per Revolution

(T) [sec]
Calculate the Speed (v) [m/s]

Show an Example Calculation Here

Determining the speed:
v

R 5.51 m
2 0.3 m
2
v
0.342263Ts
s

Consolidate all your previous data in one nice and neat table.

UCM6

Radius (m)

Hanging
mass (kg)

Centripetal

Force (N)

0.30 m

0.2989 kg

- 2.9332209 N

0.30 m

0.2989 kg

- 2.9332209 N

0.30 m

0.2989 kg

- 2.9332209 N

0.30 m

0.2989 kg

- 2.9332209 N

Spinning
Mass (kg)

Speed
v (m/s)

Speed2
v2 (m2/s2)

1/Speed2
v-2 (s2/m2)

0.0283 kg
0.0338 kg

5.51 m/s
5.45 m/s

30.3601 m2/s2

0.032938 s2/m2

29.7025 m2/s2

0.033667 s2/m2

0.0425 kg

5.29 m/s

27.9841 m2/s2

0.035735 s2/m2

0.0597 kg

4.54 m/s

20.6116 m2/s2

0.048516 s2/m2

What can you conclude about the relationship between the speed and the size of the
spinning mass? A graph would be very helpful here to see any trends.

From your data table, is it more likely that a straight-line graph will be achieved by
plotting Spinning Mass against v or v2? or v-2 ? Plot all threeboth graphs and discuss
their implications.

UCM7

UCM8

The graph of Spinning Mass versus 1/Velocity-squared provides the most linear graph.

By analyzing the graphs above, we can see that as spinning mass increases, the velocity
decreases (or the inverse velocity increases). This means that the mass and velocity are
inversely related. This is further reinforced by the equation of centripetal force solved for
the spinning mass:
M

FR const ant

v2
v2

The variance in the data is most likely due to small changes in the radius during spinning
(i.e., the radius is not perfectly held constant during the experiment).

UCM9

VelocityversuseRadius

Fill out the table holding the hanging mass and the spinning mass constant and vary
the radius.
Spinning Mass: 0.0283 kg
Hanging Mass: 0.3029 kg
0.1 m

0.2 m

0.3 m

0.4 m

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

0.231275 s
0.228528 s
0.231670 s
0.229426 s
0.227274 s
0.229200 s
0.224000 s
0.229408 s
0.224927 s

0.258021 s
0.251310 s
0.255169 s
0.259700 s
0.254200 s
0.250618 s
0.255110 s
0.255589 s
0.257383 s

0.323926 s
0.318991 s
0.322382 s
0.317700 s
0316900 s
0.319419 s
0.325483 s
0.329034 s
0.329204 s

0.427919 s
0.421983 s
0.424371 s
0.422900 s
0.416631 s
0.412697 s
0.409972 s
0.393100 s
0.387500 s

10

0.230484 s

0.256600 s

0.316460 s

0.396598 s

0.228629 s

0.25504 s

0.321950 s

0.411367 s

2.75 m/s

4.92 m/s

5.85 m/s

6.11 m/s

Revolution Number and Time per Revolution (T) [sec]

Radius (R) [m]

Average Time per Revolution

(T) [sec]
Calculate the Speed (v) [m/s]

Show an Example Calculation Here

Determining the speed:
v

R 2.75 m
2 0.1 m
2
v
0.228629Ts
s

Consolidate all your

previous data in one nice and neat table.

Spinning

Spinning

Hanging

Centripetal Radius (m)

UCM10

Speed

Speed2

Mass type

Mass (kg)

mass (kg)

Force (N)

Washers

0.0283 kg
0.0283 kg

0.3029 kg

-2.97 N
-2.97 N

Washers
Washers
Washers

0.0283 kg
0.0283 kg

0.3029 kg
0.3029 kg
0.3029 kg

-2.97 N
-2.97 N

0.10 m
0.20 m
0.30 m
0.40 m

v (m/s)

v2 (m2/s2)

2.75 m/s
4.92 m/s

7.5625 m2/s2
24.2064 m2/s2

5.85 m/s

34.2225 m2/s2

6.11 m/s

37.3321 m2/s2

What can you conclude about the relationship between the speed and the radius of the
circle? A graph would be very helpful here to see any trends.

From your data table, is it more likely that a straight-line graph will be achieved by
plotting R against v or v2? Plot both graphs and discuss their implications.

UCM11

The graph of Radius versus Velocity-squared provides the most linear graph.
By analyzing the graphs above, we can see that as radius increases, the velocity also
increases. This means that the radius and velocity are directly related. This is further
reinforced by the equation of centripetal force solved for the spinning mass:
R

PartB:Experiment
vs.Theory

Mv 2
consta nt v 2
F

Pick one set of data from the pervious section. Fill out the table below. Explain
why you pick one set over the other two.

Calculate the expected velocity according to Newtons laws based on m, M and R

(Equation 1).
UCM12

Compare this theoretical velocity to the one you measured.

Perform a %difference calculation. Explain the discrepancy and any sources that
would have caused them.

Hanging
mass (kg)

Spinning
Mass (kg)

Radius (m)

Calculated v
(m/s)

Measured
v (m/s)

% Diff.

0.3029 kg

0.0283 kg
0.0283 kg

0.10 m

3.24 m/s
4.58 m/s

2.75 m/s
4.92 m/s

15%

5.61 m/s

5.85 m/s

6.48 m/s

6.11 m/s

0.3029 kg
0.3029 kg
0.3029 kg

0.20 m

0.0283 kg

0.30 m

0.0283 kg

0.40 m

7.4%
4.3%
5.7%

Show at least one example of each type of calculation.

mgR

3.24
0v.3029
kg s 9.81 2 0.10 m
s

0.0283 kg

Results and Questions

*2 Explain any discrepancy and the sources that would have caused them.
*3 Does the theory hold-up (Part B)?
*4 What effect would friction between the tubing and string have on this lab?
*5 In the discussion of the background physics we ignored the force due to
gravity on the spinning mass (M). Discuss how would this affect our results if
accounted for this force.
*6 Name three common physical situations where you would feel a
centripetal force.
*7 Name three common physical situations where you would feel a
centrifugal force.

UCM13

Conclusion

This closing paragraph is where it is appropriate to conclude and express your

opinions about the results of the experiment and all its parts. Only the final
result(s) needs to be restated.

You are intelligent scientists. Follow the guidelines provided and write an appropriate
conclusion section based on your results and deductive reasoning. See if you can think of
any possible causes of error.
** NOTE: There are several components of error which could significantly modify the
results of this experiment. Some of these are listed below:
Ignoring acceleration due to gravity on the spinning mass
Tilt on the measured object
Drag and air resistance
Variable lengths of the radius
Measurement of the markings on the string
Snagging and catching
Calibration
Sensor limitation parameters
Computer processor speed and reading registration
Sensor Alignment
Other
A few of the potential errors listed above may be applicable to YOUR experiment

UCM14