Santiago, Risha Angela H.

2011100813 PHY10L/A11

Date Performed: 10/21/2013 Date Submitted: 11/04/2013

Experiment 101 RESOLUTION OF FORCES

The fundamental concepts of force through an illustration of a force table setup with four (4) pulleys and varied masses to determine F4 in different methods namely: experimental, graphical (parallelogram and polygon), and analytical (sine and cosine law and component). 4 pcs super pulley with clamp 4 pcs mass hanger 1 set slotted mass 1 pc protractor III. Procedure A visual guide found in the handbook is used to have a correct setup for the experimentthat is, to come up with four pulleys with strings and hangers securely attached to it. Along with the specific instructions given by the instructor, the students have to place a varied amount of mass on each pulley. By the means of trial and error method of moving the pulleys at varied angles, the students have to make sure to accomplish the objective to make the ring positioned correctly at the center. Underneath the ring is a mark used as a guide to help if the students are on the right track in doing the experiment. When the experiment has been done correctly, it will be considered as their first trial. Necessary information has to be recorded first before proceeding in identifying F4 by polygon and component method. The procedure has to be repeated to obtain the second trial.

I. Introduction For this experiment, it focuses on the fundamental concepts of Physics in which it has to be fully understood first before jumping into the next few topics. Physics is comprised with physical quantities. Under this category are scalar quantity and vector. Scalar quantities are just magnitude alone, whereas vector quantities are both magnitude and direction. Force is an example of a vector, in which it is the main topic of this experiment. It has various units depends upon the system that is required or to be used. Going back to vectors, its sum is relatively called as the resultant. If a resultant is in a state of balance, it is called equilibrium. Static equilibrium is a type of equilibrium when it is at rest. This experiment will aid the students in further visualizing how components of force work as well as to determine the resultant and equilibrant.

II. Materials 1 pc force table

IV. Results and Discussion ACTUAL VALUES F1 F2 F3 F4 1 2 3 4 TRIAL 1: COMPUTED VALUES R E E COMPONENT METHOD 0.64N 135.5 0.64N 312.5 TRIAL 2: COMPUTED VALUES R E E COMPONENT METHOD 0.62N 124.5 0.62N 304.5 POLYGON METHOD 0.62N 133 0.62N 133 % ERROR X X 4.88% 1.28% TRIAL 1 0.29N 0.39N 0.49N 0.59N 45 115 190 309 TRIAL 2 0.34N 0.39N 0.44N 0.64N 45 115 190 314

V. Evaluation Why is it important for the ring to be at the center? Since the mass hangers have equal masses, can you disregard them in the experiment? Why? It is important for the ring to be placed at the center as it signifies that the force acting upon the force table is zero, which makes equilibrium take place. In our case, we were required to have the masses in different values and therefore these hangers should not be disregarded. Furthermore, it is because it would cause apparent errors as we continue doing the experiment. When a pull is applied on the ring and then released, why does it sometimes fail to return to the center? There is a certain imbalance in the whole setup since the pull has caused a disturbance to it. What is the significance of the resultant of F1, F2, and F3 to the remaining force F4? What generalization can you make regarding their relationships? F4 is equal to F1, F2, and F3 in which this equation pertains to the sum of the vectors. However, given this equation makes F4 in opposite direction. It gives us a notion that F4 plays the role of being an equilibrant. If the order of adding vectors is changed (i.e. From F1 + F2 + F3 to F4 + F1 to F3) will the resultant be different? Why? Commutative law of addition is applied in this equation of addition of vectors

% ERROR X X 7.81% 1.12%

POLYGON METHOD 0.63N 12.5 0.63N 306

% ERROR X X 1.59% 2.61%

% ERROR X X 3.23% 3.12%

that makes no significant change in its resulting sum. Which method of determining the resultant is more a) efficient, b) accurate, c) practical or convenient to use? Defend your answer. Among all the methods we have tried to use during the experiment, I believe that the Analytical Method has been the most efficient, accurate, and practical/convenient. Efficientit has been used over time and various concepts and theories could be used to further support this method. Accurate while this method is a little nervewracking as compared to the rest of the methods, it is more accurate as there is a formula and data to be used. Lastly, practical/convenientit only requires a pen, paper, and a calculator. VI. Concluding Remarks As mentioned earlier, this experiment has given us the opportunity to visually understand and appreciate the concepts of forces as part of the vectors. Hence, it holds true that vectors do involve magnitude and direction and the force table experiment have proven just that. There are a couple of factors to consider in performing this experiment. One on the list is the strings. Even if we assume that they are weightless, they still contribute the percentage error of the overall result of the experiment because of the friction. In the same way for the other factorpulleys with clamp.

of Technology VIII. Acknowledgements I would like to thank my group mates for being so accommodating in answering my queries during the experiment. I would also like to extend my utmost gratitude to our instructor, Maam Teci, for being really patient with us (as well as for lightening up the atmosphere with a smile!). It helped me a lot in catching up with the missed lessons in my lecture class. Of course, to the ever trusty World Wide Web and my MacBook named Simone. This lab report wouldnt be possible without these mentioned things and people. Thanks to you all!

VII. References [1] Department of Physics, Experiment 101: Resolution of Forces, Mapa Institute