Analysis of Newtons 2nd Law Lab Newtons 2nd law states that F=m(a).

. For observational purposes, we looked at the relationship a=F/m. The three attached graphs highlight the relationships between force, mass and acceleration. Analyzing the first graph of constant applied force shows that as mass was increased, acceleration decreased. As the negative slope of the graph indicates, there is an inverse relationship between the two. Manipulation of the data by plotting the inverse mass vs. acceleration (see graph 3) does not lead to a straight line; the definitive proof of an inversely proportional relationship. Although mathematically, this would make sense, since adding mass makes the denominator of the equation larger, thus decreasing the value of the acceleration. When calculated values of acceleration are determined and compared with the data, our results were within a 5-28% range of the calculated values. These variations are still only at maximum .1 m/s2 difference in acceleration, fairly negligible considering acceleration was only observed over a distance of 1 meter. One likely reason for these differences is that the area of interest of the recorded acceleration was chosen by my lab partner and me as a judgment call on where the graph seemed to show the steadiest rate of change in velocity. The computer program then averaged this range of data chosen by us. An average of data will be different than an almost instantaneous acceleration of a particular mass being pulled upon by a constant force. Analyzing the graph of constant mass shows that as the applied force was increased, acceleration also increased. The positive, linear slope shows that there is a direct, linear relationship between acceleration and force. This agrees with the mathematical equation, since a constant mass is being divided into a larger numerator, or force, acceleration should increase. Calculated values of acceleration were 27-48% greater than collected data. These differences could be attributed to two factors: the same as stated above, that our recorded data was an

average of best guess, and the mass of the cart was not truly constant. To increase applied force, we had to increase the mass of the system. Although by comparison, the additional mass was small, it never the less impacted our data. Newtons law that a=F/m is not just a mathematical statement. Our observations show that both force and mass affect acceleration. Additional mass decreases acceleration and increasing the applied force increases acceleration. Although the slope of the graph for constant mass is steeper than that for constant force, this should not imply that one has a greater effect on acceleration than the other. By plotting the inverse of the mass vs. acceleration on the second constant force graph, one would expect to see a straight line if mass and acceleration are definitively inversely proportional. The lack of a straight line does not deny or support this direct relationship. Further manipulations are needed to determine the exact relationship between mass and acceleration. Data collection errors reported above need to be eliminated, along with far most extensive data collection to identify whether one factor does indeed affect acceleration greater than the other. We can, however, based on our limited observations, state that mass and acceleration seem to be inversely proportional, and applied force and acceleration seem to be directly proportional.

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