
S t a t i c s S y s t e m
E x p . 7 : T h e I n c l i n e d P l a n e
®
38
012-12876B
The force provided by the Spring Scale, F
measured
, equals the component of the force of gravity that is parallel to
the Inclined Plane, F
The calculated component of force that is parallel to the Inclined Plane, F
calculated
, is F sin
, where
is the angle of the plane.
3.
Adjust the angle of inclination of the Inclined Plane to each of the values shown in the table. For accurate val-
ues, adjust the pulley and Spring Scale so that the thread remains parallel to the plane. At each value, record
the measured value, F
measured
, of the force parallel to the plane.
4.
At each value, calculate the magnitude of the force parallel to the plane, F
calculated
= F sin
and record the
calculated value.
5.
Calculate the percent difference between the measured and calculated values of the force parallel to the plane.
*The Percent Difference is the absolulte value of the ratio of the difference of the measured and calculated values, divided by the
average of the measured plus calculated values, converted to a percentage.
Question
How well does the calculated force based on the vector model compare to your measured force?
Normal Force
The force that the Inclined Plane provides to support the cart is called the normal force (a force perpendicular –
“normal” – to the surface.) In the vector model of the force, the component of force that is perpendicular to the
plane, F
, is F cos
. The normal force is equal to the force of the cart on the Inclined Plane, perpendicular to its
surface.
To measure the force of the cart on the Inclined Plane, reset the Inclined Plane to 15°. Replace the Spring Scale
with a mass hanger connected by a thread over the pulley to the cart. Add masses to the mass hanger until the cart
and the hanging mass are in equilibrium. (In other words, the force provided by the tension in the thread equals the
component of the cart’s weight that is parallel to the plane.)
Angle
F
measured
F
calculated
= F sin
Percent Difference*
15°
30°
45°
60°
75°
measured - calculated
me calculated
2
x 100%
Figure 7.3: Normal Force Equipment Setup
Summary of Contents for ME-9502
Page 1: ... PASCO Mechanics Statics System ME 9502 Instruction Manual 012 12876B 012 12876 ...
Page 4: ... Statics System iv 012 12876B ...
Page 20: ...Statics System Exp 2 Adding Forces Resultants and Equilibriants 16 012 12876B ...
Page 24: ...Statics System Exp 3 Resolving Forces Components 20 012 12876B ...
Page 28: ...Statics System Exp 4 Torque Parallel Forces 24 012 12876B ...
Page 32: ...Statics System Exp 5A Center of Mass 28 012 12876B ...
Page 36: ...Statics System Exp 5B Equilibrium of Physical Bodies 32 012 12876B ...
Page 44: ...Statics System Exp 7 The Inclined Plane 40 012 12876B ...
Page 50: ...Statics System Static Friction on an Inclined Plane 46 012 12876B ...
Page 60: ...Statics System Exp 10 Simple Harmonic Motion The Simple Pendulum 56 012 12876B ...
Page 66: ...Statics System Exp 11A Simple Harmonic Motion Physical Pendulum 62 012 12876B ...
Page 70: ...Statics System Exp 11B Minimum Period of a Physical Pendulum 66 012 12876B ...
Page 76: ...Statics System Exp 11C Simple Harmonic Motion Beam on a Spring 72 012 12876B ...
Page 84: ...Statics System Exp 13 Simple Machines The Inclined Plane 80 012 12876B ...
Page 94: ...Statics System Technical Support 90 012 12876B ...