Centripetal Force Introduction- The purpose of this lab was to determine the centripetal force acting on an object that

rotated in a circle and the relationship between FC, mass, and radius on the period of rotation of the object. Since the object is moving in a circle at a constant speed, we call this uniform circular motion. As the object moves in a circle, it accelerates and therefore requires an unbalanced force that prevents the object from moving in a straight line. This unbalanced force is a net inward force, or centripetal force (FC) that points in the same direction as the acceleration of the object -towards the center of the circle. Experimental Sketch- An apparatus was set up to rotate a bob in uniform circular motion and to measure the period of rotation of the bob. (See Fig. 1.) Procedure- In Study 1, an apparatus was set up to rotate a bob in uniform circular motion. The mass of the bob was measured. Then the bob was hung from a string on the cross arm of the apparatus. The radius of the circle was measured (distance from the base of the apparatus to the hanging bob). A weak spring was attached from the base to the bob. Next Fig. 1 A bob was hung on the static force of the spring on the bob was measured. A string a string from a cross arm tied to the bob was passed over a pulley and weights were added and pulled in towards the to a weight holder attached to the string until the bob stretched center by the spring (Fs). out to the exact radius that was measured earlier. This mass was recorded. Then the centripetal force of the bob was measured. The power supply was turned on and the voltage and current were adjusted accordingly so the bob would rotate and pass directly over the measured radius and underneath the photogate. Fifty revolutions of the bob were recorded on Capstone. This process was repeated again using a stronger spring. For Study 2, we measured the period for five different masses of the bob. For each mass, the revolution was measured in Capstone. Our data points were graphed and a linear line was obtained.

Data/CalculationsStudy 1 Constants:

Mass (M) of bob (kg) = 0.4822 kg M of bob (kg)= 5 x 10-5 Relative Error in M= 1.04 x 10-4 Radius-R (m) = 0.18 m R (m)= 0.005 Relative Error in R= 0.028 Bob at Rest Spring m2 (kg) m2 (kg) Fs (N) = (m2)*g Fs = g*(m2) Weak Spring 0.105 0.0025 1.029 0.0245 Strong Spring 0.205 0.0025 2.009 0.0245

Bob in Motion Spring N (# periods) T (s) (T) (s) T = (T) = (T)/ Relative Error in T Weak Spring 50 1.65 0.04 0.0057 0.0035 Strong Spring 50 1.20 0.02 0.0028 0.0023

-See attached data sheets for weak and strong spring (1) and (2). Study 2 Table of the different masses used and the period obtained from Capstone. -See attached graph (3)

# 1 2 3 4 5

Mass (kg) 0.4322 0.4022 0.3822 0.3722 0.3522

T2 1.26 1.24 1.23 1.22 1.21

Study 1 Analysis

Weak Spring 1.Static Force (Fs)

Strong Spring

2.Centripetal Force (Fc)

3.Greatest Source of Uncertainty

4.Difference between calculated Fc and measured Fs

5.Error in the difference

Fc= 1.26 0.035 N Fs= 1.029 0.0245 N

Fc= 2.38 0.067 N Fs= 2.009 0.0245 N

Lab DiagramBob at Rest Bob in Motion

Theory-We are comparing the two different forces Fc and Fs because we want to show that they are equal to each other. Discussion1. Fc and Fs do not agree within error. 2. If there is friction present on the pulley, then friction equals the difference between the Fc and Fs. 3. a) Given the same mass and radius, the weak spring will have the greater period. This agrees with the theoretical equation because in the equation, Fc (which theoretically equals Fs) and the period (T) have an inverse relationship. So if Fc is smaller, then T will be greater and vice versa. b) Given the same spring, a greater mass will have a greater period. This agrees with the equation because if Fc is to remain constant, then when mass increases, the period (T) will also increase. A greater radius will give a greater period. This also agrees with the equation because if Fc is to remain constant, then when the radius increases, the period (T) will also increase. Discussion of Study 2-

This equation indicates that when mass increases, period will also increase. If all other variables remain constant (Fc, radius), then a linear relationship should be obtained.

Conclusion- Ultimately, it was found that mass and period have a linear relationship from Study 2 and Fc and period have an inverse relationship from Study 1. In Study 1, when using the weak spring and strong spring, T was found to be 1.65 0.0057s and 1.20 .0028s, respectively. In Study 2, when a mass of 0.3622 kg and later 0.4322 kg was used, the T2 was found to be 1.21 s2 and 1.26 s2, respectively. Perhaps to improve our data, we could have adjusted our voltage more carefully to ensure that the radius would stay constant as we changed masses during Study 2.