SSME 403 Laboratory Experiments in Secondary Education

Experiment Uniform Circular Motion

Submitted to:
Dr. Ufuk YILDIRIM
Res. Assistant Derya KALTAKI
Res. Assistant zlem OKTAY

Fato Durak
PHED 1547116

mit Kay
PHED 1547165

Experiment Uniform Circular Motion

Name of the experiment:

Uniform Circular Motion
Purpose of the experiment:
With this experiment we aim to design an experiment that enabled us to test the
relation;

Fnet =

m v 2
. Main purpose in doing so was to test centripetal force and the
r

factors affecting it.

Procedure of the Experiment:
We tried to use the simplest and most available equipments for carrying out this
experiment. We opted in to use a string with masses tied at each end. One of the masses is the
one to be subject to uniform circular motion while weigh of the other mass constitutes the
force responsible from circular motion.
At the first step we examined the effect of mass which is subject to uniform circular
motion on the period of the motion. To study this we fixed the length of the radius at 40 cm
and kept mass which is constitutes the force responsible from circular motion at 230 g. We
measured the period of the rotator according to different masses which are 20g, 29.25g and
40g. We did this procedure 5 times for each mass to get best results.
At the second step we examined the effect the length of the radius on the period of the
motion. To study this we kept the mass which is constitutes the force responsible from circular
motion at 230 g and mass which is subject to uniform circular motion at 40.15g. We measured
the period of the rotator according to different the length of the radius which are 15cm, 30cm
and 40 cm. We did this procedure 5 times for each mass to get best results.
At the third step we examined the effect of mass which is constitutes the force
responsible from circular motion on the period of the motion. To study this we fixed the
length of the radius at 30 cm and kept mass which is subject to uniform circular motion at
40.15 g. We measured the period of the rotator according to different masses which are 230g,
100g and 300g. We did this procedure 5 times for each mass to get best results.
At final step we examined the effect of mass which is subject to uniform circular
motion on the length of the radius. To study this we fixed period at 0.39s and kept mass which
constitutes the force responsible from circular motion at 230 g. We measured length of the
radius according to different masses which are 29.25g, 58.5g and 87.75g. We did this
procedure 5 times for each mass to get best results.
2

Errors and Their Probable Sources:

As can be seen on the table above we had some nice results with small error and some
others with high error. For us, error was an expected and inevitable component of this
experiment since we thoroughly experienced the friction while rotating the mass tied at the
end of the rope.
Conclusions and Interpretations:
Theoretically, In physics, uniform circular motion describes the motion of a body
traversing a circular path at constant speed. Though the body's speed is constant, its velocity is
not constant. This changing velocity indicates the presence of acceleration; this centripetal
acceleration is of constant magnitude and directed at all times towards the axis of rotation.
This acceleration is, in turn, produced by a centripetal force which is also constant in
magnitude and directed towards the axis of rotation
The magnitude of the centripetal force on an object of mass m moving at a speed v along a
path with curvature is:

where ac is the centripetal acceleration. The direction of the force is toward the center of the
circle in which the object is moving, or the osculating circle, the circle that best fits the local
path of the object, if the path is not circular. This force is also sometimes written in terms of
the angular velocity of the object about the center of the circle:

Expressed using the period for one revolution of the circle, T, the equation becomes:

(Uniform circular motion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 2010)

This experiment helped us in better understanding the uniform circular motion in which we
tried to test centripetal force and factors affecting it.

At the first step we examined the effect of mass which is subject to uniform circular
motion on the period of the motion. To study this we fixed the length of the radius at 40 cm
and kept mass which is constitutes the force responsible from circular motion at 230 g. We
measured the period of which are 0.40, 0.49, and 0.57 according to different masses which are
20g, 29.25g and 40g respectively. We did this procedure 5 times for each mass and we
counted 9 periods to get best results. However, when we calculated the periods, we found
values of 0.37, 0.45 and 0.53. As you see, the results of experiment and calculated values are
not exactly same. These errors can be caused by several factors. For example, we thoroughly
experienced the friction while rotating the mass tied at the end of the rope. Also, we could not
count the exact number of 9 periods because of the fast speed of the circular motion. And, we
used paper clip for being sure keeping the length of the radius, so, we could not fix the
velocity for holding the paper clip in same position. However, the errors are small although
these factors.

PART 1

Mass(g)
20

29.25

40

(R=40cm, M=230g)
T(s)
Average
T (s)
st
1 measurement
T= 0.4
0.40
2nd measurement
T= 0.39
3rd measurement
T= 0.4
4th measurement
T= 0.39
th
5 measurement
T= 0.41
st
1 measurement
T= 0.49
0.49
2nd measurement
T= 0.50
3rd measurement
T= 0.48
4th measurement
T= 0.49
th
5 measurement
T= 0.48
1stmeasurement
T= 0.59
0.57
nd
2 measurement
T= 0.57
rd
3 measurement
T= 0.54
4th measurement
T= 0.57
th
5 measurement
T= 0.60

Calcuted
T(s)
0.37

Error
(%)
7.5

0.45

0.53

As you see, if the mass increase, the period also increase when we fixed the R=40cm,
M=230g. This is expected result. Because, when we look at the theoratical knowlegde the
relationship between mass and period is m

At the second step we examined the effect the length of the radius on the period of the
motion. To study this we kept the mass which is constitutes the force responsible from circular
motion at 230 g and mass which is subject to uniform circular motion at 40.15g. We measured
the period of which are 0.33, 0.50, and 0.57 according to different radius which are 15cm,
30cm and 40cm respectively. We did this procedure 5 times for each radius and we counted 9
periods to get best results. However, when we calculated the periods, we found values of 0.32,
0.46 and 0.53. As you see, the results of experiment and calculated values are not exactly
same. These errors can be caused by several factors. For example, we thoroughly experienced
the friction while rotating the mass tied at the end of the rope. Also, we could not count the
exact number of 9 periods because of the fast speed of the circular motion. And, we used
paper clip for being sure keeping the length of the radius, so, we could not fix the velocity for
holding the paper clip in same position. However, the errors are small although these factors.

PART 2

Radius(cm)
15

30

40

(m=40.15g, M=230g)
T(s)
Average
T (s)
st
1 measurement
T= 0.32
0.33
2nd measurement
T= 0.31
3rd measurement
T= 0.37
th
4 measurement
T= 0.33
5th measurement
T= 0.32
st
1 measurement
T= 0.49
0.50
2nd measurement
T= 0.48
3rd measurement
T= 0.49
4th measurement
T= 0.51
th
5 measurement
T= 0.52
st
1 measurement
T= 0.59
0.57
2nd measurement
T= 0.57
3rd measurement
T= 0.54
4th measurement
T= 0.57
th
5 measurement
T= 0.60

Calcuted
T(s)
0.32

Error
(%)
3

0.46

0.53

As you see, if the radius increase, the period also increase when we fixed the
m=40.15g, M=230g. This is expected result. Because, when we look at the theoratical
knowlegde the relationship between radius and period is R

At the third step we examined the effect of mass which is constitutes the force
responsible from circular motion on the period of the motion. To study this we fixed the
length of the radius at 30 cm and kept mass which is subject to uniform circular motion at
40.15 g. We measured the period of which are 0.65, 0.50, and 0.37 according to different
masses which are 100g, 230g and 300g respectively. We did this procedure 5 times for each
mass and we counted 9 periods to get best results. However, when we calculated the periods,
we found values of 0.69, 0.46 and 0.4. As you see, the results of experiment and calculated
values are not exactly same. These errors can be caused by several factors. For example, we
thoroughly experienced the friction while rotating the mass tied at the end of the rope. Also,
we could not count the exact number of 9 periods because of the fast speed of the circular
motion. And, we used paper clip for being sure keeping the length of the radius, so, we could
not fix the velocity for holding the paper clip in same position. However, the errors are small
although these factors.

PART 3

M(g)
100

230

300

(m=40.15g, R=30cm)
T(s)
Average
T (s)
1stmeasurement
T= 0.65
0.65
nd
2 measurement
T= 0.64
3rd measurement
T= 0.63
th
4 measurement
T= 0.66
th
5 measurement
T= 0.65
1stmeasurement
T= 0.49
0.50
nd
2 measurement
T= 0.48
3rd measurement
T= 0.49
th
4 measurement
T= 0.51
5th measurement
T= 0.52
st
1 measurement
T= 0.37
0.37
nd
2 measurement
T= 0.35
3rd measurement
T= 0.38
th
4 measurement
T= 0.38
5th measurement
T= 0.38

Calcuted
T(s)
0.69

Error
(%)
6

0.46

0.4

7.5

As you see, if the radius increase, the period also increase when we fixed the
m=40.15g, M=230g. This is expected result. Because, when we look at the theoratical
knowlegde the relationship between M and period is M

1
T2

At final step we examined the effect of mass which is subject to uniform circular
motion on the length of the radius. To study this we fixed period at 0.39s and kept mass which
constitutes the force responsible from circular motion at 230 g. We measured the radius which
is 33cm, 15cm, and 8cm according to different masses which are 29.25g, 58.5g and 87.75g
respectively. We did this procedure 3 times for each mass and we counted 9 periods to get
best results. However, when we calculated the radius, we found values of 30cm, 15cm and
10cm. As you see, the results of experiment and calculated values are not exactly same. These
errors can be caused by several factors. For example, we thoroughly experienced the friction
while rotating the mass tied at the end of the rope. Also, we could not count the exact number
of 9 periods because of the fast speed of the circular motion. And, we used paper clip for
being sure keeping the length of the radius, so, we could not fix the velocity for holding the
paper clip in same position. However, the errors are small although these factors.

PART 3

m(g)

(T= 0.39s , M=230g)

R(cm)
Average
R (cm)
st
1 measurement
R= 33
33

Calcuted
R(cm)
30

Error
(%)
9

29.25
R= 14
R= 16
R= 16

15

15

58.5

1stmeasurement
2nd measurement
3rd measurement

R= 8
R= 7.5
R= 8

10

25

87.75

1stmeasurement
2nd measurement
3rd measurement

As you see, if the radius increase, the period also increase when we fixed the
m=40.15g, M=230g. This is expected result. Because, when we look at the theoratical
knowlegde the relationship between mass and radius is m

1
R

Comments and Suggestions:

As every experiment on the field of mechanics this experiment was nice to carry out.
The only disadvantage or limitation of this experiment was the friction between the rope and
the tube it was rotating inside. Also, it is hard to fix the period and velocity. It can be a system
(machine) which rotates itself. And, the system can provide us to adjust the period and
velocity. Although this machine could not be available, there could be a machine for counting
exact number of circle.
References:
Uniform circular motion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2010, April 10). Retrieved June
10, 2010, from wikipedia.org: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform_Circular_Motion