VI.

Questions
1.) In the graph of the

Fnet vs a

in the experiment, what does the slope of the line

represent?
It shows by how much the acceleration increases as force increases by one.
2.) Compare the theoretical and experimental accelerations. Give reasons for the difference
in the values. What can be done to minimize the errors in the determination of the
experimental acceleration?
Since the experimental acceleration is computed it will get an exact answer while the
theoretical depends on how we do the experiment on the pulley on how exact we should
stop movement of the two masses. We must make sure to stop the force with precision
even and do more trials in order to minimize the errors for it will save time.
3.) In the experiment, what can you say about the acceleration if:
M 1> M 2 acceleration occurs while if

M 1< M 2 it decelerates and if they are both

equal then there is no accelerations

VII. Conclusion

Acceleration is directly proportional to the net force acting on the system. This was also shown
by the inversely proportional relationship between the acceleration of the masses and the sum
total of those masses. This is shown clearly in the researchers graph. When the total mass
remains constant, acceleration increases with the increase in net force acting on the system.
There are three forces at work here: the forces of gravity on both masses and the tension in the
string connecting them. Once the masses are unequal the forces become out of balance. Mass 1
feels its own weight pulling down, and the weight of the other mass pulling up. The net force
pulling down is the amount that would be felt if gravity were pulling on something that weighed
the same as the difference between the two masses. But the force is pulling on both masses
simultaneously, so the acceleration equals what you would get when applying this force to
something that weighed the same as the sum of the masses. We get errors because the atwood
machine is not perfect and the computerized one because it depends on how accurate you stop
the force of the pulley.