Pasco Scientific ME-6956, Instruction Manual And Experiment Manual

Page: 32 / 46

28
PAScar Accessory Track Set (2.2 Meter) 012-07558A
®
Initial release position = ________________
Final position = ________________
Total distance (d) = ______________
hanger so that the car takes about 2 seconds to complete the run. Because of reaction
time, too short of a total time will cause too much error. However, if the car moves
too slowly,friction causes too much error. Record the hanging mass in Table 8.1.
5. Place the car against the adjustable end stop on the pulley end of the track, and record
the final position of the car in Table 8.1.
6. Measure the time at least 5 times. Record these values in Table 8.1.
Table 8.1
7. Increase the mass of the car and repeat the procedure.
Data Analysis
1. Calculate the average times and record in Table 8.1.
2. Calculate the total distance traveled by taking the difference between the initial and
final positions of the cart as given in Table 8.1.
3. Calculate the accelerations and record in Table 8.2.
4. For each case, calculate the total mass multiplied by the acceleration and record in
Table 8.2.
5. For each case, calculate the net force acting on the system and record in Table 8.2.
6. Calculate the percent difference between
F
NET
and
(m
1
+m
2
)a
and record in Table 8.2.
Table 8.2
Questions
1. Did the results of this experiment verify that
F = ma
?
2. Considering frictional forces, which force would you expect to be greater: the hanging
weight or the resulting total mass times acceleration? Did the results of this experi-
ment consistently show that one was larger than the other?
3. Why is the mass in F = ma not just equal to the mass of the car?
4. When calculating the force on the car using mass times gravity, why isn’t the mass of
car included?
Time
r a C
s s a M
g n i g n a H
s s a M
1 l a ir T 2 l a ir T 3 l a ir T 4 l a ir T 5 l a ir T
e g a r e v A
e m i T
s s a M r a C n o it a r e l e c c A e c n e r e ff i D %
(m
1
+m
2
)a
F
NET
= m
2
g