PHYSICS 100 Fall 2011 Laboratory # 24 Title: The Inclined Plane

TecQuipment Ltd 2010 TA: Mohamed Mandour

Theory behind the Experiment:

A weight force always acts vertically downwards towards the center of the earth. A force can be applied to an object at any angle we desire but a weight force always acts downwards. However, this experiment will show that when a body is on an inclined plane it exerts a force down the plane and a force at 90 degrees (or normal) to the plane. Both are caused by the roller weight (W) acting vertically downwards and both are of less magnitude than (W). If a garden roller rests on a horizontal plane all its weight acts downwards and the roller will not move unless we pull or push the handle. At the line of contact between the roller and plane, the force pressing the roller and the plane together will be equal (W). If the plane is vertical, the roller tries to roll down the plane. To prevent it from doing so its entire weight (W) must be supported. In this condition the force pressing the roller and plane together is zero because all the weight acts downwards. A typical example of the inclined plane is the roller conveyor, where the box is transported on frictionless rollers due to its own weight.

Objective of the Experiment:

To investigate the forces acting on an inclined plane due to a weighted roller supported on the plane.

Equipment Needed:
Sliding Friction Experiment Weighted Roller and Cord 4 Knurled Nuts Plumb Bob & Line 2 Weight Hooks Adjustable Pulley Set of Weights 10 N Spring Balance
1

Setup of the Equipment:

Secure the mounting panel in the vertical position. Mount the Plane Assembly by placing the studs through holes E5 and E10 and secure with nuts. Hang the plumb line over the protractor center screw. Place a knurled nut on the thread of the adjustable pulley and pass the threaded part through hole K4. Adjust the knurled nut until the groove in the pulley is the same distance from the mounting panel as the groove in the pulley in the Sliding Friction plane assembly. Secure with a second knurled nut. Weigh the roller with the spring balance and record the weight.

Experimental Procedures:
Test 1: o Adjust the center support and read the angle on the protractor against the plumb line, set the plane at 15 degrees o Place the roller at the top end of the plane, pass one of the cords over the pulley at the end of the plane and attach a weight hook to the end cord o Let the second stirrup and cord lay on top of the stirrup in use, but do not allow it to interfere with the free movement of the roller o Apply enough weight to the weight hook so that the roller is just rolling down the plane. Record this weight (including the weight hook of 0.1 N) o Apply weights to the same hook until the roller just begins to roll up the plane. Record this weight (light tapping of the plane is advisable for best results) o Now find the average pull to support the roller on the plane by adding both results together and dividing by 2. Record the average results and modify the weight on the hook to agree with it o Now take the second cord and pass it over the adjustable pulley and attach a weight hook on the end of the cord. Do not remove the weights which are pulling up the plane o Move the roller along the plane until the cord from the roller which passes over the adjustable pulley is at approximately 90 degrees to the plane o Apply weights to the second weight hook until the roller is just lifted clear of the plane surface and record this weight (including the weight hook) (light tapping of the plane is advisable for best results) Test 2, 3 and 4: o Repeat the above procedure for angles of 25, 35 and 45 degrees. First find the force parallel to the plane and then, with this force applied, find the force at 90 degrees to the plane. Notice that when the second force is applied the cords automatically adopt an equilibrium position with cords at 90 degrees to each other.

The forces P and Rn are reactions for the forces acting on the plane due to (W). (P) is the reaction to the force which is acting parallel to the plane, and (Rn) is the reaction to the force acting downwards, but normal to the plane. This action is frequently called the normal reaction.

Angle 15 25 35 45

(P)

(Rn)

WSin WCos

Concluding Questions:
a) Give your conclusions, stating clearly the effect of weight acting on an inclined plane b) Draw and label the Force Diagram (triangle-of-forces) of the 4 tests; with W being the common hypotenuse of the 4 triangles c) If a roller is flattening the road surface on a steep hill, is its efficiency as a roller impaired by the angle of the incline?