Kwang Hyun (Kevin) Ryu

Partner(s): Aaron Eisenbart

AP Physics 1, Period 1
Ms. Nguyen
November 21st, 2014
Lab: Centripetal Force
I.
II.

Title: Relationship between Centripetal Force, Velocity, and Mass on a Stopper

Purpose: The purpose of this lab is to find and understand the relationship between
centripetal force, mass, velocity, and radius and discover the nature of centripetal
force which moves in a constant circular motion. Because of the fact that centripetal
force relies on centripetal acceleration and mass of moving object, the connection to

III.

Newtons Second Law of F = ma can be drawn.

Materials: PVC Pipe, Meter Stick, Timer, 20 Washers, Scale, Tape, Rubber Stopper,

IV.

and String
Data:

Trial

# of

Mass of

Balancing

Washers

Washers

Force

0.02 kg

0.20 N

0.607 m

4.83 s

0.69 T

0.04 kg

0.39 N

0.504 m

10

4.76 s

0.48 T

12

0.06 kg

0.59 N

0.506 m

10

5.18 s

0.52 T

16

0.08 kg

0.78 N

0.502 m

15

6.61 s

0.44 T

20

0.1 kg

0.98 N

0.501 m

10

3.51 s

0.35 T

Mass of Washers: 0.005 kg

Mass of Rubber Stopper: 0.003 kg
Free Body Diagrams:
Washers

Stopper
FT

FT

Radius

Revolutions

Time

Period

Total

FG
FG
V.

Sample Calculation:
Balancing Force | F = ma | Fb = 0.02kg x 9.8m/s2 | Fb = 0.20N
Total Time
4.83 s
Period = Total Revolutions | Period = 7 revs | Period = 0.69T
Centripetal Force | Fc =

4 2 rm
T2

| Fc =

4 (0.607 m)( 0.02 kg)

0.692 T

| Fc =

1.01 N

|
VI.

X accepted X experimental
X accepted

x 100% |

N 1.01 N
|0.200.20
|
N

x 100% = 405%

Data Analysis:
Even though our data of balancing force and the centripetal force were not equal,
not even closely, theoretically these two forces should be equal as the tension in the
string that keeps stopper to move in a circular motion is created by the balancing
force. Our percent of error turned out to range all the way from staggering 405% to
astronomical 1548%. These error percentages could be explained by our lack of
competence when doing the lab, called human error. Human errors are made through
number of factors, including the radius measurement and time recording, all done by
unintentionally through pure lack of competence, like explained before, to equipment
defectives. The potential error in the time recording and radius measurement could be
reduced by timing more revolutions to find the average, stabling out the time and
revolutions and testing the experiment more than just once, each experiment starting
as a new experiment. However, it should be noted that there could be more error
when too many revolutions is being timed as it is difficult to keep the stopper to move
at a constant speed.

VII.

Conclusion:

The centripetal force lab demonstrated to us that the force of tension of the string
caused by the mass of washers transfers into the centripetal force which ultimately
keeps the rubber stopper to move in a constant pace, in circular motion. The
conclusion of this lab could can be drawn up by finding out relationship amongst
centripetal force, mass, velocity, and radius by the Newtons second law, which can
be summed up as F = ma.