Virtual Lab: Force = Mass x Acceleration

http://www.glencoe.com/sites/common_assets/science/virtual_labs/E25/E25.html

Complete
for 20 ec
points

__________________________ is a push or pull on an object. __________________________ is the difference between

two opposing forces. Newtons 2nd Law of Motion states that if a net force acts on an object, the object will
__________________________ in the direction of the force. Acceleration is a change in
__________________________. It can either be __________________________ (speeding up) or
__________________________ (slowing down).
Mass is the amount of __________________________ contained in an object.
Mass does not change with changes in __________________________.
The acceleration of any object falling to the surface of Earth is _______________ m/s2. This means that at the first second
the object will be falling with a speed of 9.8 m/s2. At 2 seconds, the object will be falling at the rate of
_________________________; at 3 seconds, it will be falling at the rate of _________________________, and so on.

Procedure
1. ClickthearrowunderLocation1&selectanyplanet.ClickthearrowunderObject1selectthePumpkin.

Recordtherateofaccelerationforthislocationandtheobjectsmassinthedatatable.Selectanotherplanet&
thePumpkinunderLocation2&Object2.Recordtheinformation.

2. Clickthedropbutton&observetheobjectsfall.Thegreenlinesindicatetheobjectspositionateachsecond.
3. Calculatetheforceoftheobjects(weight)usingForce=MassxAcceleration.Record.
4. Tests3&4:Repeatsteps13fortheCar.
5. Tests5&6:Repeatsteps13,butselecttheplanetVenusforbothlocationsandchooseanyobject.
6. Tests7&8:Repeatsteps13,selectingJupiterforbothlocationesandchooseanyobject.
7. Tests9&10:Repeatsteps13,selectinganyplanetandanyobject.
DataTable: GravitationalAcceleration,Mass,&Weight
Location

Object

Pumpkin

Pumpkin

Car

Car

Venus

Venus

Jupiter

Jupiter

10

Acceleration(m/s2) MassofObject(kg)

FORCEorWeight
(N)

Test

VirtualLab:Conclusion
1. HowisNewtonsSecondLawrelatedtogravity?

2. Howdoestheforceofgravityaffecttherateofacceleration?

3. Describewhathappenswhenidenticalobjectsaredroppedonplanetswithdifferentgravitational
conditions.

4. Describewhathappenswhendifferentobjectsaredroppedunderthesamegravitationalconditions.

5. Basedonyourdata,howdoesmassaffectweight?

6. Whatistheweightofa24.52kgTelevisiondroppedonPluto(accelerationof0.59m/s2)?

7. Whatistheweightofa45.40kgBarbelldroppedonEarth?

8. Challenge:AhammerisdroppedonPlanetX.Ifthehammerhasamassof3kgandaweightof9N,
whatisthegravitationalaccelerationofPlanetXandisitmoreorlessthanthatofEarth?