For this experiment we explored the idea very similar to the original Atwoods machine, but instead we started teh counterwieght on a flat surface instead of both weights balancing freely. We also used a buggy on a track for the counterweight for this one, and because of that we had to employ more weight to counteract the buggy's mass. We also performed two separate experiments for this lab, one where we varied the mass of the system and the other we varied the total net force.
In the one where we varied the mass of the system we found that the acceleration was slowly decreasing as we increased the weight of the system, and we also found through our data that the equation to go along with the curve of the graph was a = 0.53 / m. The equation turned out to be inverse, and the value of 0.53 we found out represents our unbalanced force of 50N. When we originally graphed this, we created a break in the graph but afterwards we noticed this could skew the overall accuracy so we instead changed it back to the "to scale" type of graph as shown on the whiteboard photo below.
The experiment where we varied the net force of the system we just moved weights to either side of the system therefore we would only increase the net force and not the total force of the system. For this we found our equation to be linear, as follows: a = 1.28 f
Overall this experiment showed me how to find different forces and challenges the way I thought the forces diagrams would look like, because of the direction of the tension. This also helped me better understand the idea of Newton's 3rd law force pairs and how they are important to many aspects of physics. Overall the idea of modifying the machine was very useful in my understanding of the concept of tension.
In the one where we varied the mass of the system we found that the acceleration was slowly decreasing as we increased the weight of the system, and we also found through our data that the equation to go along with the curve of the graph was a = 0.53 / m. The equation turned out to be inverse, and the value of 0.53 we found out represents our unbalanced force of 50N. When we originally graphed this, we created a break in the graph but afterwards we noticed this could skew the overall accuracy so we instead changed it back to the "to scale" type of graph as shown on the whiteboard photo below.
The experiment where we varied the net force of the system we just moved weights to either side of the system therefore we would only increase the net force and not the total force of the system. For this we found our equation to be linear, as follows: a = 1.28 f
Overall this experiment showed me how to find different forces and challenges the way I thought the forces diagrams would look like, because of the direction of the tension. This also helped me better understand the idea of Newton's 3rd law force pairs and how they are important to many aspects of physics. Overall the idea of modifying the machine was very useful in my understanding of the concept of tension.