Helen Du

Michelle Gracia
Ada Hu
Abstract:
We did this experiment to develop a model of force and acceleration. We had 2
specific objectives: to find a relationship between acceleration and mass of the
system and a relationship between the acceleration and the total force of the system.
For the first experiment, we set up a pulley system with a hanger and a car, then
used different variations of weight on the car and put the rest of the weights in the
hangar. For the second experiment, we set up a pulley system with a hanger and a
car, then constantly added mass on the car to observe the relationship between
mass and acceleration. We kept the total force constant because we can only
compare 2 variables at a time. Mass is the independent variable, since we can
change it by adding more mass bars. Acceleration is the dependent variable; it relies
on the mass. Our total force was independent, since we could change it at will, and
our dependent variable was acceleration because it changed depending on the total
force. The relationship between sum of forces and acceleration was that acceleration
was proportional to the sum of forces. We found out that the relationship between
mass and acceleration was that acceleration was inversely proportional to mass.
The slope of the acceleration vs sum of forces graph is how much the acceleration
changes for every newton. The a intercept is the acceleration when the sum of the
forces is 0 N. Our a intercept was .0310 m/s2. Newtons First Law states that when
sum of the forces is 0 N, acceleration is 0m/s2. We were .0310 m/s2off from zero
showing an uncertainty when we compensated for friction. The slope for the second
graph meant the change in acceleration for every 1/kg. The a intercept was the
acceleration when mass is 0 kg. Our a intercept was -.2038 m/s2 , which we
approximated to 0m/s2.After combining the two proportionalities, we got a final
equation of a=F1m .
Diagram 1
a vs m
Constant F
Acceleration= w2
Accelerations are the same

Diagram 2:

a vs F
Constant mass of system
Acceleration= w2
Accelerations are the same

Force Diagram for Mass 1

Force diagram for mass 2

Procedure for purpose 1:

1. Get a ramp, string, mass discs, pulley, hanger, and cart
2. Set up the ramp so that its slightly tilted in order to compensate for friction
3. This is done by turning on the force sensor and pushing the cart
4. When the acceleration is less than 0.01 m/s2, you have compensated for
friction
5. Set motion sensor on ramp so that it is facing the pulley
6. Place the cart 40 inches away from the motion sensor
7. Attach string to car, also attach pulley to the end of the ramp
8. At the end of the string attach hanger and attach 6-8 discs on the hanger
9. Start motion sensor again and record the acceleration of the cart
10. One by one transfer the mass discs from the hanger to the cart and record
acceleration for each transfer
11. repeat step 9 6-8 times
Procedure for purpose 2:
1. Get a ramp, string, mass blocks, mass discs, pulley, hanger, and cart
2. Set up the ramp so that its slightly tilted in order to compensate for friction
3. This is done by turning on the force sensor and pushing the cart
4. When the acceleration is less than 0.01 m/s2, you have compensated for
friction
5. Set motion sensor on ramp so that it is facing the pulley
6. Place the cart 40 inches away from the motion sensor
7. Attach string to car, also attach pulley to the end of the ramp
8. At the end of the string attach hanger and attach at least 0.050 kg additional
on the hanger
9. Start out with one bar with a mass of .25 kilograms, then record the
acceleration with the motion sensor.
10. Add 1 bar to the cart each time and record the acceleration of the cart for
each

11. Repeat steps 9 6-8 times

a vs F
Throughout the experiment we collected the data and rounded everything to the
thousands place. We collected all the measurements in grams at first and then
multiplied it by 1000, since 1000 grams is equal to one kilogram. After gathering all
the data we made the calculation of the total force, and the mass of the system. For
this specific purpose the mass of the system was constant and the sum/total force
and acceleration was changing. The sum of the forces was calculated by multiplying
m2 by the gravitational field strength because the gravitational field strength
accelerates the hanger and the tension in the rope equals the mass of the hanger
with the discs. Therefore total force is calculated that way. We calculated the
acceleration by using a motion sensor. After graphing the results we found that
acceleration is directly proportional to the total force and found the slope using
logger pros auto linearized fit.
Sample calculation:
F=m g
=.095 kg(9.8 N/kg)
=.931 N
Mass of the system = m +m
=.260 kg+.095 kg
=.095 kg
2

Data Table 1:
m
(kg)

m
(kg)

a
(m/s )

F
(N)

m/system
(kg)

.260

.095

2.456

.931

.355

.270

.085

2.163

.833

.355

.280

.075

1.944

.735

.355

.290

.065

1.736

.637

.355

.300

.055

1.477

.539

.355

.330

.025

.6897

.245

.355

.340

.015

.4030

.147

.355

.350

.005

.1310

.049

.355

a vs F
General trends
The acceleration is directly proportional to the F. We had a straight line with a
positive slope, since the acceleration increases as the F increases. The equation of
our line was a=( 2.612m/s /N)F+(-.031m/s2).We found the equation by graphing the
line, then finding the best fit line using logger pro.
2

The slope is the amount acceleration changes for each Newton added. In our case,
for every newton added, our acceleration increased by 2.612 meters per second
squared.
The intercept is the acceleration when Fis 0. In our case, when F was 0N, our
acceleration was -.375 meters per second squared, which we approximated as 0
meters per second squared using Newtons first law, which explains that if the sum
of the forces is 0N, then there is no acceleration (constant velocity).
Equation
a=( 2.612m/s /N)F+(0m/s2)
2

Uncertainty
There was an uncertainty in this experiment . As we progressed along we got better
results because we had more practice. Because we set the slope of the ramp
manually, there was an uncertainty in compensating for the friction of the ramp on
the car. It may have been over compensated. There may have also been an
uncertainty in the mass of each object, because the mass production of the object
may not of led the masses to be perfectly a certain amount of kilograms. This may
affect the overall total force. There is also an uncertainty in the motion detector,
given anything made by humans can be faulty, or not exactly perfect.
a vs m
For purpose two we had the mass on the hanger be constant throughout the
experiment in order to have a changing mass system with only one variable. We
then added mass bars of .250 kilograms and added the weight of the cart which
was .250 to every added bar. After collecting 8 data points we then converted the
collected data we had in grams to kilograms. After that we used the same method to
find the total force as we did in purpose one. To find the mass of the system we
added the mass on the hanger with the total mass of the cart and however many
bars were in it. We then graphed the points on logger pro and found that
acceleration is inversely proportional to mass. Since acceleration and mass are

inversely proportional we had to linearize the graphs by adding a calculated column

of 1/m and making it the x-axis on logger pro, with the y-axis acceleration. We then
found the slope using a tool of logger pro, which was the automatic linear fit.
sample calculation:
F=M g
=.105kg(9.8 N/kg)
=1.029N
Mass of the system = m +m
=.500kg+.105kg
=.605kg
2

Data Table 2:
m
(kg)

m
(kg)

a
(m/s )

F
(N)

mass/system
(kg)

.500

.105

1.171

1.029

.605

.750

.105

.7580

1.029

.855

1.00

.105

.5536

1.029

1.105

1.250

.105

.4384

1.029

1.355

1.500

.105

.3365

1.029

1.605

1.750

.105

.2091

1.029

6.855

a vs m
General trends
The acceleration is directly proportional to 1/m, which gave us a function. We
linearized this by creating a graph of a vs 1/m, in order to find the slope of this graph.
Our group ended up with a final equation of a=(.8384 m/s /1/kg)(1/m)+
(-.2038m/s2).The slope is positive since the acceleration increases as the value of
1/m increases.
2

The slope is the amount the acceleration changes for every 1/kg added. In our case,
for each 1/kg added, the acceleration increased by .8384 meters per second
squared.
The intercept is the acceleration when 1/m is 0. In our case, when 1/m was 0, our
acceleration was -.2038 meters per second, which we approximated as 0.
Equation
a=(.8384 m/s /1/kg)(1/m)+(0m/s2)
Uncertainty
In the manufacturing of the mass bars and car there is an uncertainty of how much
mass each object obtains. The mass bars may not be the same mass. There may
also be an error in compensating for friction because it may have been over
compensated or undercompensated for. There is also an uncertainty in calculating
the acceleration because no motion detector can perfectly measure the acceleration
of any one object. We did not account for the friction on the pulley or the weight of
the rope. These errors are so tiny that we decided they were negligible.
2

Combined Analysis
We can combine 1/m and F into 1 equation, but we must add a constant, k so the
equation is true. We got a=kF1m. We realized that if we put the equation in the form
a=(kF)1/m, we got the slope of the a vs 1/m graph. Then, we put the equation in the
form a=(k)(1/m) F where k*1/mwas the slope of the a vs F graph. After solving for k
and plugging in numbers, we got values of .807m/s 2/1/kg and 1.00m/s2/1/kg. Since
we got k values of .807m/s2/1/kg and 1.00m/s2/1/kg, we approximated k to equal 1,
and ended up with a final equation of a=F1m or F=ma.
Error analysis
There was a 14% error from the expected constant. This error may have occurred
because of the way we compensated for friction. It may have also occurred because
the mass bars and discs were not the exact amount it was labored. The pulley also
had friction that was not compensated for.

Final equation: a=F *1/m