Rev 5/03

Experiment 7: Uniform Circular Motion

Purpose
(1) to study uniform circular motion (2) to study centripetal force

Apparatus
centripetal force apparatus, a timer, a ruler, slotted weights, equal-arm balance

Fig. 1. Centripetal Force pparatus! "tatic #est

Fig. 2. Centripetal Force pparatus! in $peration

Theoretical Summary
Centripetal Force
%n this e&periment, you will spin a bob around a rotating shaft in uniform circular motion. n ob'ect in uniform circular motion mo(es in a circle at a constant speed by a force directed towards the center of the circle (a centripetal force). #he formula for centripetal force Fc is m ) mass of the rotating ob'ect Fc ) m (2 where r ( ) speed of the ob'ect r ) radius of the circle *e can find an equation for the (elocity ()+& +t by calculating the distance and time for one re(olution. #he distance is the circumference of the circle 2r and the time is the period of re(olution #. "o! ( ) 2r
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Experiment 7

# ,y substituting this for ( in the equation for centripetal force, we arri(e at formula (1)! (1) Fc ) - .2 / m / r #2

Static Test of the Centripetal Force

Consider the bob hanging from the crossarm with the stretched spring and a cord with suspended weights attached to it as in Figure 1. #he hori0ontal forces on the bob are pro(ided by the spring and the tension in the spring due to the suspended weights. %f the bob is not mo(ing, we 1now that the net force is 0ero and the two hori0ontal forces are equal. #he force e&erted by the spring equals the force of gra(ity on the weights. #his gi(es us another technique for finding the centripetal force. #he centripetal force in our e&periment is pro(ided by the spring that holds the bob to the rotating shaft. #he force of a spring depends on the force constant of the indi(idual spring and the distance it is stretched. %f we stretch the spring the same distance it is stretched during the rotation, the force e&erted by the spring will be the same as the centripetal force.

Procedure Part Ia Static test of the steel sprin!

(a) 2etach the bob and record its mass 3bob. Clamp the pointer rod in some intermediate position of your choice. 3easure the distance from the middle of the rotating shaft to the pointer rod to one millimeter accuracy, and record it as r1. (b) 4ang the bob exactly abo(e the tip of pointer, by ma1ing two ad'ustments: (i) mo(e the crossarm hori0ontally (use its clamp) (ii) raise or lower the bob by changing the length of string (by wrapping it around its cleat). s accurately as your eye can see, the tip of the bob and the pointer should be within two millimeters of each other. (c) ttach the steel spring and the cord to the bob. 5ass the cord o(er the pulley and load the hanger so that the bob is again exactly abo(e the tip of the pointer (see Figure 1). 6ecord the total hanging mass as 3hanging1. "emem#er: #his static test allows you to measure the force e&erted by the steel spring on the bob.

Procedure Part I# Uniform Circular Motion $asic "uns

(d) 6emo(e the hanger and secure its cord by winding it around the bob. Practice
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Experiment 7

rotatin! the %nurled section of the shaft with your fingers as shown in Figure 2 until you are able to maintain uniform circular motion, with the bob passing exactly o(er the pointer at e&ery re&olution as best you can. 7ou can place a cardboard screen behind the bob for easier (iewing if you wish. (e) 2etermine the time #8 it ta1es to complete 8 re(olutions. 3a1e three runs, with 8)9:, ;:, and <: re(olutions. 6ecord #8 for e(ery run. ( 7ou will need to continue rotating with your fingers as you chec1 the time.) "uggestion! Chec1 the (alue of # ) #8 = 8 from all three runs, to (erify that they are consistent.

Procedure Part II Chan!in! the "adius

(f) 6epeat the steps (a) through (e) with t'o mar%edly different positions of the pointer. >abel your new (alues by r2 and 3hanging2, and r? and 3hanging?. Important: (o not for!et to ad)ust the cross*arm each time+

Procedure Part III Chan!in! the Mass

(g) dd 9: to 1:: grams to the mass of the bob using slotted weights. 6ecord the new mass as 3bob@. 6epeat steps (a) through (e), recording the hanging mass in the static test as 3hanging@. (Ase your last pointer position r? for this part.)

,a# "eport Part I

(1) Calculate the a(erage (alue of # ) #8 = 8 from your three runs. Asing formula (1) calculate Fc in ne'tons, rounding-off its (alue to three significant digits. (2) From the static test, Asing your (alue , calculate the tension in the cord 3hanging1 g ) Fstatic. 2isplay the B difference C between Fc and Fstatic, that is C) Fc D Fstatic Fstatic
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& 1::B

Experiment 7

Part II
(?) Calculate the following using data from 5arts % and %% and fill out #able ! # ,>E ! C4 8F%8F #4E 6 2%A" "ource of 2ata! r (meters) G#H (sec) Fc (8ewtons) Fstatic (8ewtons) C (B)

5art % 5art %%

Part III
(-) Calculate the following using data from 5arts %% and %%% and fill out #able ,! # ,>E ,! C4 8F%8F #4E 3 "" "ource! 3bob (1g) r (meters) G#H (sec) Fc (8ewtons) Fstatic (8ewtons) C (B)

5art %% 5art %%%

(9) Iuestion J1! E&plain, usin! al!e#ra, why both (alues of Fstatic should theoretically be equal in #able , while this is not true for the two (alues of Fstatic in #able . (K) Iuestion J2! #o find Fc by Formula (1) you had to measure! (i) masses. (ii) distances. (iii) time-inter(als. *ith the apparatus you ha(e used, and with the range of (alues you dealt with, estimate the expected B-uncertainties in each of these three 1inds of
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Experiment 7

measurements. Fi(e o#)ecti&e reasons for your estimates.

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