i.

Introduction/Application

Uniform circular motion can be described as motion of an object in a circle at a constant

speed. As an object moves in a circle, the object has a constant speed but there’s a change
in direction and so an acceleration can be observed with a constant velocity and a change
in position. Also, uniform circular motion has a force that acts upon the object that directs
it toward the center. The net force is said to be the centripetal force. Centripetal force that
came from the Latin word “centrum“ which means "center" and “petere " which
means to seek," is a force that is always directed to the center and with this force,
the object would be moving along a straight path.

This experiment aims to make the student understand the uniform circular motion.
Also it aims to quantify the centripetal force on the body when the parameters is
held constant and also to verify the effects of varying the factors involved in circular
motion.

ii. Methodology

In the first part, the researchers’ objective is to find the centripetal force of an object with
a constant mass and variable radius of rotation. It was done in 3 trials and in each trial the
radius of rotation is increased with 1cm and the mass remains constant. To start, the
researchers weigh the rotation body using a digital weighing scale to determine its mass.
To create a centripetal force, they must hang a known mass over the clamp-on pulley. It
was initially set up to 16cm radius and adjusted the thumb screw’s position. The spring
bracket is adjusted up and down to make sure that the string is in vertical orientation. The
bracket with the orange indicator was moved to be located at the center of the post and it
will serve as the reference and the mass hanging over the pulley was removed. The
apparatus was gently rotated and the orange indicator must be centered in the indicator
bracket to keep the rotating object at is desired radius. To record the time, the researchers
used a stopwatch and a complete ten revolution is recorded. Dividing the time recorded
by 10 will be used as data. It was repeated until 3 trials are done,

In the second part, the researchers aim to calculate the centripetal force with a constant
radius and variable mass of rotating body. It was done in 3 trials and in each trial, the
mass of the rotating body is increased and unlike the previous part, there is no need to
slide the side post to different positions. To start off, the researchers weigh the rotating
body using a digital weighing scale and the mass is recorded to be use as a basis of the
calculation of the centripetal force. Like the previous part, hanging a known mass over
the clamp-on pulley will create a constant centripetal force. The spring bracket is also
adjusted to make sure that the string is connecting the rotating body is in vertical position.
The orange bracket will serve again as a reference and after removing the mass hanging
over the pulley, the apparatus must be gently rotated until the indicator is centered in the
indicator bracket. Ten complete revolution is completed and a stopwatch is used to time
the ten revolutions and by dividing the time with 10 will result to the period of rotation of
the moving object. It was repeated until three trials were done and in each preceding trial,
the mass of the rotating body is changed.
In the third part, the researchers aim to find the mass of the rotating body with a constant
radius and variable force. To start off, the researchers weigh the rotating body once again
by using the digital weighing scale and record its mass as a basis for the actual value of
mass of the rotating body. A known mass was hang over the clamp-on pulley and in each
trial, the mass on the pulley is increased. The researchers now then tightens and secure
the the thumb screw and keep the radius constant. The spring bracket is adjusted once
again and. The bracket with an orange indicator is moved once again to be located at the
center post. The apparatus now was gently rotated keeping the orange indicator at the
center of the bracket. Ten revolutions was completed like the previous parts and the time
is recorded dividing it by 10 that will serve as the period of rotation. The steps were
repeated and on the preceding trials, the mass that was hanged on the clamp-on pulley is
changed and with the change of mass, the centripetal force for each trial will also change.

iii. Figures/Tables/Graphs

*Figures
Reference

http://www.physicsclassroom.com/mmedia/circmot/ucm.cfm
http://www.regentsprep.org/regents/physics/phys06/bcentrif/default.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centripetal_force