Centripetal Force Lab
Partners: Madeline Walbert and Maeann Brougher
Date: 12/18/14
Purpose: In this lab, we will investigate centripetal force acting on a pendulum.
Date: 12/18/14
Purpose: In this lab, we will investigate centripetal force acting on a pendulum.
Theory:
When an object traveles in a circular path, a centripetal force is exerted towards the center of its path. The pendulum also exerts a centripetal force because it forms a semicircle.
Variables used: W=Weight of object g=Acceleration due to gravity m=Mass of object T=Tension V=Velocity Fc=Centripetal force r=Radius Percent Difference= How different the two values are from one another exp1=Experiment one exp2=Experiment two |
Experimental Technique:
The pendulum was set up using multiple devices and it was hooked up to the computer through DataStudio. This lab consisted of 2 different radii, increasing masses, and constant velocities. The first five trials consisted of a longer radii and increasing masses, while the last five contained a shorter radii and the masses coincided with the first five trials. A measuring tape was used to measure the radius from the center of mass to the pivot point at the top. The flag length, or the diameter of the masses, had to be measured by using a vernier caliper in order to set DataStudio up correctly. Each trial went up in increments of 20 for the masses.
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Once the pendulum was gradually swung to increasing velocities, DataStudio recorded the forces and the velocities into graphs. A constant velocity point was chosen on the graph and the force corresponding with that velocity was recorded. To solve for the centripetal force, the equation Fc=mv^2/r was utilized. In order to compare the force acquired through the graph and the centripetal force calculated, the percent difference equation was used. All of the data found was recorded into an organized Excel table.
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Data and Analysis:
Conclusion:
The factors that affect the centripetal force of the pendulum are the mass, velocity, and radius of the object. This experiment investigated centripetal force by changing the mass and radius but keeping the velocity the same. Other factors include the tension and the weight of the object, which is represented in the free body diagram of the theory section.
In the end, the forces retrieved from the graph and the forces calculated were compared and noted to have very high percent differences. The reason for such high values is because of measurement error, since there would be some uncertainty. There is also the fact that the numbers were rounded instead of utilizing the exact values found.
Of all the measurements made, the measurement of the radius provided the most error with the calculations. Firstly, we could have found a better way to measure it because using a measuring tape was difficult with the way the device was set up. There is also going to be uncertainty in the last decimal place where we had to make an educated guess as to what the value was. Any error in this value greatly throws off the centripetal force calculation as it is being divided by the radius value. The larger the radius value was off, the smaller the centripetal force calculated to be. In the end, a better and more accurate way to measure the radius should have been conducted in order to solve for more precise centripetal forces.
The factors that affect the centripetal force of the pendulum are the mass, velocity, and radius of the object. This experiment investigated centripetal force by changing the mass and radius but keeping the velocity the same. Other factors include the tension and the weight of the object, which is represented in the free body diagram of the theory section.
In the end, the forces retrieved from the graph and the forces calculated were compared and noted to have very high percent differences. The reason for such high values is because of measurement error, since there would be some uncertainty. There is also the fact that the numbers were rounded instead of utilizing the exact values found.
Of all the measurements made, the measurement of the radius provided the most error with the calculations. Firstly, we could have found a better way to measure it because using a measuring tape was difficult with the way the device was set up. There is also going to be uncertainty in the last decimal place where we had to make an educated guess as to what the value was. Any error in this value greatly throws off the centripetal force calculation as it is being divided by the radius value. The larger the radius value was off, the smaller the centripetal force calculated to be. In the end, a better and more accurate way to measure the radius should have been conducted in order to solve for more precise centripetal forces.
References:
Bowman, D. (n.d.). Lahs Physics. Lahs Physics. Retrieved December 17, 2014, from http://lahsphysics.weebly.com/
Giancoli, D. (1998). Physics: Principles with applications (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall.
Bowman, D. (n.d.). Lahs Physics. Lahs Physics. Retrieved December 17, 2014, from http://lahsphysics.weebly.com/
Giancoli, D. (1998). Physics: Principles with applications (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall.