Newtons Second Law 012-11003 r1.

04
Newtons Second Law
Introduction Each page of this lab that
Journals and Snapshots contains the symbol
The Snapshot button is used to capture the
should be inserted into your
screen. journal. After completing a
lab page with the snapshot
The Journal is where snapshots are stored
symbol, tap (in the upper
and viewed. right corner) to insert the
The Share button is used to export page into your journal.
or print your journal to turn in your
work. Note: You may want to take a
snapshot of the first page of
this lab as a cover page for
your journal.
Newtons Second Law
Lab Challenge
What is the relationship
between the net force
applied to an object and its
motion?
Newtons Second Law
Background
Like Newton, we will observe a simple system
to look for a relationship between net force
Fk and motion. From earlier studies we know
Spring that a mass hung from a spring experiences a
force due to gravity and a restoring force from
the spring. In equilibrium the two forces are
x0 = 0
equal and opposite. When the mass is
Mass displaced one of the two forces is greater,
thus causing a non-zero net force pointed
In Equilibrium towards the equilibrium position. We will
investigate how this net force is related to the
Fg motion of the system.
Newtons Second Law
Q1: In the box below,
a) b)
indicate which force is
greater (spring or gravity)
for both a) and b), then
snapshot this page.

x1
x0 x0
x2
Newtons Second Law
Materials and Equipment
Collect all of these materials
before beginning the lab.
Force Sensor
Motion Sensor
Springs
Rod Stand
Rod
Mass
Clamp
Newtons Second Law
Sequencing Challenge The steps to the left are part
of the procedure for this lab
A. Oscillate the B. Plot net force activity. They are not in the
mass on the measured by the right order. Determine the
spring, and begin force sensor versus correct sequence of the
collecting data. acceleration.
steps, then take a snapshot
of this page.

C. Use the linear D. Connect the

curve fit to Motion Sensor and
determine the the Force Sensor to
slope of the line. the SPARK Science
Learning System.
Newtons Second Law
Setup
1. Connect the Force Sensor to the rod and rod
stand.
2. Hang the mass from the Force Sensor using
the spring.
3. Place the Motion Sensor directly below the
mass with the face of the sensor pointed up at the
mass.
4. Connect the Force and Motion Sensor to your
SPARK Science Learning System.
Newtons Second Law
Collect Data
1. With the mass hanging
motionless, press the
ZERO button on the force
sensor.
2. Pull down gently on the
mass and release to start
it moving up and down.
3. Tap to start collecting
data.
4. After the mass has
finished three to four
complete cycles (~5 to 10
seconds), tap to
stop data collection.
Newtons Second Law
Analysis Make your selection below
then take a snapshot of this
1. Why do you think it is important to press the page.
ZERO button before collecting data?
a) to calibrate the Force Sensor
b) to ensure the Force and Motion Sensor
both start from the same point
c) to make sure no forces are present
d) to ensure the Force Sensor is measuring
the net force on the mass
Newtons Second Law
Analysis
While collecting data we observed the position of
the object as it changed over time to ensure that
enough data was collected and that the data and
observed motion were consistent.
Next we will compare force to motion. After each
pair of graphs there is a question, you can go back
to the graph if you need to compare a few points
In time on each pair of graphs to determine the
nature of their relationship.
Newtons Second Law
Newtons Second Law
Analysis Make your selection below
then take a snapshot of this
2. Which description below best describes the page.
relationship between force and position in the case
of a spring and mass system?
a) Force is proportional to position.
b) Force is inversely proportional to position.
c) Force is unrelated to position.
d) Force is negatively proportional to position.
Newtons Second Law
Newtons Second Law
Analysis Make your selection below
then take a snapshot of this
3. Which description below best describes the page.
relationship between force and velocity?
a) Force is proportional to velocity.
b) Force is inversely proportional to velocity.
c) Force is offset from velocity.
d) Force is negatively proportional velocity.
Newtons Second Law
Newtons Second Law
Analysis Make your selection below
then take a snapshot of this
4. Which description below best describes the page.
relationship between force and acceleration?
a) Force is proportional to acceleration.
b) Force is inversely proportional to
acceleration.
c) Force is the inverse square of
acceleration.
d) Force is negatively proportional to
acceleration.
Newtons Second Law
Analysis
During data collection we observed the position
of the object as it changed over time to ensure
that enough data was collected and that the
data and observed motion were consistent.
On the following graph we will plot force versus
acceleration to better understand the nature of
the relationship between these two variables.
Newtons Second Law
Analysis
5. In the space below,
describe the shape of the
data plot of force versus
acceleration. Then take a
snapshot of this page.
Newtons Second Law
Analysis
6. Apply a linear curve fit to
the force versus
acceleration plot, then take
a snapshot of this page.

*To Apply a Curve Fit:

1. Tap to open the tool
palette.
2. Tap to open the Curve
Fit screen.
3. Tap the name of the curve
fit required.
Newtons Second Law
Analysis
7. Indicate any relationship that the slope of the curve fit line from the previous
page has with the experiment, and then take a snapshot of this page.
Newtons Second Law
Analysis
8. Using your knowledge of graphing, how would you express the equation of the
line from the Force versus Acceleration graph in terms of the variables of this
experiment? Below the equation write out the units of each variable to be sure
the equation is balanced.
Newtons Second Law
Synthesis
1. The harder a ball is thrown (apply more force), the faster it will move
(greater initial velocity resulting from acceleration). If you throw a 1 kg
softball as hard as you can and it is traveling at 20 m/s when it leaves your
hand, how fast will a 5 kg shot put travel with the same throw?
Newtons Second Law
Synthesis
2. Force is proportional to acceleration. Given the answer to Synthesis
question 1, how would you describe the relationship between acceleration
and mass?
Newtons Second Law
Synthesis
3. If we launch a rocket that has been designed to produce a constant force, will
the acceleration at initial launch be the same as the acceleration just before
the fuel is completely expended?
Newtons Second Law
Synthesis
4. A similar experiment is set up so that a force sensor is used to drag a 1.5 kg
brick across a table while a motion sensor measures its acceleration. Several
trials are conducted, but the slope of the force versus acceleration graph is
consistently about 2. What would explain the difference? What would you
do to improve the results?
Newtons Second Law
Multiple Choice Question Make your selection below
then take a snapshot of this
1. If two potatoes are launched from a potato page.
launcher that applies the same force,
a) the heavier potato will be traveling faster than
the lighter one.
b) the lighter potato will be traveling faster than
the heavier one.
c) regardless of their mass, they will be traveling
at the same velocity.
d) there is not enough information to draw a
conclusion.
Newtons Second Law
Multiple Choice Question Make your selection below
then take a snapshot of this
2. A roller coaster is designed to deliver 3g of page.
acceleration at the bottom of a loop. The mass of
the cart is 500 kg and the rider is 100 kg. If the
track is designed to withstand 15,000 N of force
without buckling, will the cart and rider make it
through the loop?
a) No, this ride will likely end in disaster.
b) Yes, the cart and rider will easily make it past
the dip.
c) Yes, but a second rider of equal size would not
make it through.
d) There is not enough information to draw a
conclusion.
Newtons Second Law
Multiple Choice Question Make your selection below
then take a snapshot of this
3. A 1000 kg rocket is launching with its engine page.
producing a force of 39240 N. What is its
acceleration?
a) 9.81 m/s2
b) 39.24 m/s2
c) 1000 m/s2
d) 29.43 m/s2
Newtons Second Law
Multiple Choice Question Make your selection below
then take a snapshot of this
4. The acceleration of an object is ___________ page.
a) proportional to the mass of the object and the
force being applied.
b) proportional to the mass of the object, and
inversely proportional to the force being
applied.
c) proportional to the net force being applied and
inversely proportional to the mass of the
object.
d) always perpendicular to the force of gravity.
Newtons Second Law
Multiple Choice Question Make your selection below
then take a snapshot of this
5. The net force on an object is ______________ page.
a) proportional to the force of gravity.
b) the vector sum of the individual forces acting
on the object.
c) always balanced by the normal force.
d) both A and C.
Newtons Second Law
Congratulations!
You have completed the lab.
Please remember to follow your teacher's instructions for cleaning-up and submitting
your lab.
Physics Template
References
ALL IMAGES WERE TAKEN FROM PASCO DOCUMENTATION, PUBLIC DOMAIN CLIP ART, OR WIKIMEDIA
FOUNDATION COMMONS:
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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Damped_spring.gif
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Launch_of_Space_Shuttle_Atlantis.jpg
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