11/29/2011

LAB REPORT

WHEEL & AXLE ACCELERATION

INTRODUCTION
The wheel and axle is a simple machine developed in ancient times. In its simplest form it consists of a rod attached to a wheel so that their movements are coupled when one of the parts is turned. The wheel and axle is used either as a force multiplier (e.g.: Doorknob, steering wheel, fishing reel etc.) or as a distance multiplier such as driven wheels on cars. In the first kind of application, the larger wheel is used to create more torque (in the axle) with less force. In the second kind of application, when the axle is turned, the outside of the wheel turns at a greater linear speed that is proportional to the ratio of the radii of the wheel and axle. The simple machine called wheel and axle consists of a large wheel through which a smaller-radius shaft or axle passes through. When the wheel turns, it forces the axle to turn; or if the axle is turned, the wheel also turns. One full turn of the large wheel results in one full turn of the smaller one and vice versa.

OBJECTIVE
A lab investigation of an accelerating object can be difficult without motion sensors or computer photo gates. The accelerating object can gain velocity in such a way that it moves a great distance in a short time. Using a wheel and axle will slow the motion down so that it can be timed with a stopwatch, and last from 3-10 seconds This lab experiment is conducted to prove that the acceleration, velocity and time of an axle with a wheel moving down an inclined plane can be calculated using the energy method. Our aim is to calculate the value for time and compare it to the measured value and achieve a low percentage error.

THEORY
When a wheel is released downwards on an inclined plane, it accelerates and hence gains energy. The potential energy of the wheel at the top of the inclined plane converts into kinetic energy as it moves down the plane. The kinetic energy of a rolling wheel has two components, translational and rotational energy. Every point on the wheel undergoes circular motion about an axis of rotation. Such motion around an axis of rotation is called rotational motion. Translational energy is due to the bodily movement of the mass centre down the slope. If it is assumed that friction effects are negligible then no energy is lost. Thus the loss in potential energy becomes a gain in kinetic energy

ENERGY EQUATION

EQUATION OF MOTION

%Error

APPARATUS USED
INCLINED PLANE

WHEEL

STOP WATCH

AXLE

VERNIER CALIPER

RULER

PROCEDURE
Requirements to carry out this experiment are o An inclined plane o Wheel and axle o Vernier calliper o Ruler o Stop watch The starting point is marked on the inclined plane and the distances are measured and marked ( 200mm, 400mm and 500mm) Perpendicular height from the starting point to the ground should be measured, this is to be done at the 200mm, 400mm and 500mm marks as well. Measure the diameter of the axle and the wheel using the vernier callipers. As the mass of the axle is negligible, place the wheel and axle on a weighing scale and determine the mass. This is recorded as the mass of the wheel. The wheel is then placed on the inclined slope at the starting point. Set the stop watch to zero. Allow the axle to roll down the inclined plane. Simultaneously, start the stop watch. Record the time at which the wheel and axle reach the 200 mm, 400mm and 500mm mark. Repeat the procedure thrice to get 3 readings. Calculate the average of the 3 readings.

RESULTS
0.0595 0.006 5.3 kilograms At 0.2m 4.46 At 0.4m 6.51 At 0.5m 7.49

Radius of wheel(meters) Radius of axle(meters) Mass of wheel At 0m 0

Average Measured Time(seconds) Calculated time (seconds) Height(meters) Calculated Velocity Calculated Acceleration At 0.2

0 0.105 0 0

4.05 0.08 0.099 0.0245

6.04 0.06 0.132 0.02178

6.53 0.045 0.1532 0.0235

At 0.4

At 0.5

At 0.2m
ENERGY EQUATION

EQUATION OF MOTION

At 0.4m
ENERGY EQUATION

EQUATION OF MOTION

At 0.5m
ENERGY EQUATION

EQUATION OF MOTION

DISCUSSION
60

T^2 vs Distance

50

40

t^2 30 20

Practical Calculated

10

0 0.2 0.4 Distance 0.5

GRAPH OF TIME SQUARE VS DISTANCE The above results show that it is possible to calculate the time of a wheel and axle acceleration down a slope using energy method. However there are several factors to be considered like 1. 2. 3. 4. Parallax error Time delay in using the stop watch The actual friction which is being ignored in our calculations The mass of the axle.

These factors result in a slight difference in values as shown in the graph above. The values we achieved by calculations and the measured values dont have a high difference.

CONCLUSION
The experiment was conducted to prove that the velocity, time & acceleration of a wheel and axle moving down a slope can be calculated using energy methods. We have succeeded in proving this as the graph above shows that the calculated values for time is very similar to the measured values of time for three different distances.

REFERENCES http://serc.carleton.edu/sp/mnstep/activities/27153.html http://nsdl.org/resource/2200/20110216124003558T http://www.explainthatstuff.com/howwheelswork.html