~1~

Vector Force Table Lab

Gerald Reed @02662214

Partners: Shaketa Belton Kendra Carter Ronald Francois

~2~

Objective of the Experiment The purpose of this experiment is to compare experimental results of vectors with graphical and analytical calculations by finding the resultant force that balances out the given force so that the system will be at equilibrium. Theory In accordance to Newtons second law an object not accelerating must have no net force. The method for vector addition includes finding the orthogonal components of each vector and adding so that the components of the resultant vector R is related to the components of the individual vectors A, B, etc., in the following way: Rx = Ax + Bx + ... + Nx Ry = Ay + By + ... + Ny where N is the total number of forces acting on the object. The magnitude of the resultant vector is | | and the angle between the vector R and the x-axis is ( ) The equilibrant vector is the vector E which when added to R returns zero. As well as calculating the percent error between the different methods of finding vector resultants. Materials Force table Weight holders Sets of masses Rulers Protractors Spirit Levels Procedures 1. Place force table flat on table 2. Cut 3 pieces of strings approx. 21 in. long and tie loop at end of each piece attach one end to center ring and other end to weights 3. Place ring in center of force table and put strings over pulleys 4. Get 3 mass holders 5. For vector A add mass to one mass holder is 27g and set at angle at 63 degrees 6. For vector B add mass until holder+ weights is 41g and set angle at 154 degrees 7. For vector C attach last mass holder to the last string loop and add mass and adjust angle until the system is in equilibrium 8. Record values of A, B and C, in table 1 for experimental result 9. Record values of A and B in table 2 for analytical calculations and with this calculate the mass, force, components and angle for vector C

~3~

Calculations | |

( ) ( )

Analytical Results A Mass (g) 27 Angle 63 (degrees) Force 0.2646 x-comp 0.260868 y-comp 0.044282

B 41 134

C 41.543 79.4556

Experimental Results A B C Mass (g) () 27 63 41 48 134 299

0.4018 0.407121 -0.18637 0.074502 0.355965 0.400247

Percent Error 15.54302 Abs. Error 18.45

Conclusion Percent error is based off of the accuracy of weights and angles. It is based off of tension of the string and human error of judgment on accuracy. With percent error only around 15% from calculated is relatively small. With this being said the resultant is an equilibrium value that balances off vectors A and B.