Newton’s 2nd law lab Name__________________________________Period________

Purpose

Identify the relationship between force, mass and acceleration.

Vocabulary

Newton’s second law: F=MA

Force: a push or a pull exerted on an object with a strength or direction. SI unit of force= Newton (N)

Mass: The amount of matter an object contains: SI unit of mass= Kilogram (kg)

Acceleration: A change in the velocity of an object. SI unit of acceleration= Meters per second squared (m/s2)

Essential question

How is the force of an object directly related to its mass and acceleration?

Research/background information.

Brainstorm with your team and write what you understand about the relationship between force, mass, and
acceleration and how can objects be influenced by these factors.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Procedure

Equipment needed: 2 rulers (one used as an inclined plane and the other to measure with), 2 small balls with different
masses, one object like a book to elevate one end of the inclined plane, a small lightweight object like a Styrofoam cup
or block to place at the bottom of the ruler.

Instructions: You will doing an experiment to see how the force of an object is influenced by mass and acceleration.
You will place a ruler at an angle with a small object at the bottom (you are making an inclined plane). You will let each
ball roll down the plane a total of three times each. The small object should be placed at the bottom of the inclined
plane in the exact same position each time a ball rolls down the plane. Each time the ball hits the object measure how
far the front of the object is displaced by the ball. Record your data in the data table. Once the data is recorded
determine the mean for displacement for each ball. (Add all the numbers, then divide the sum by the total number of
numbers you added).

Work with your team to make a prediction about what you think will happen (Hypothesis). Use an If….then…..statement.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________
 Data table

Ball 1: Mass_______________ Ball 2: Mass_______________

Object Displacement (cm) Roll 1

Object Displacement (cm) Roll 2

Object Displacement (cm) Roll 3

Object Displacement (cm) Roll 4

Mean displacement(cm)________ Mean displacement(cm)________

The rate of acceleration for both balls is the same. Determining the acceleration of the ball moving down the inclined
plane is directly related to the angle it is moving and all of the forces acting on the ball. We will not be calculating that
for this procedure.

What is the dependent variable (DV)? _____________________________________

What is the independent variable (IV)? _____________________________________

Use the blank graph below to compare your variables in bar graph format. (Use only the mean displacement)
 Data Analysis/Conclusion

Write a summary that explains what happened. Make sure you include the answer to the essential question. (use
paragraph format)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________