Force, Mass, and Acceleration:

The Relationship of Force, Mass, and Acceleration According to Newtons Second Law

Suchanuch Putaprapasri
Prawfah Roruangkul
Varun Saketharam
Passawas Satitjindawong
Pichayathida Siriwechdaruk
Thanon Thamvorapol
Rawisara Thongchantra

AP Physics 1102
Ms.Susan Alulod
Mahidol University International Demonstration School
Semester 1 School year 2016-17

Purpose
 The purpose of this lab is to demonstrate and test Newtons second law. This lab will
show the relationship between the mass of the object, the acceleration, and the force exerted onto
the object. The experiment will also prove the statement of Newtons second law, which says that
the acceleration of the object is directly proportional to the force exerted on the object, and is
inversely proportional to the mass of the object. Moreover, this lab shows the relationship
between Newtons second law and linear motion.
*note: In this lab experiment, air resistance and friction are neglected.*

Hypothesis

1) If the mass of the object is large in quantity, then the object would accelerate in
slower rate when the same amount of force is acted on compared to the object with lesser
mass.
2) If more force were being exerted onto the object, then it would result in more
acceleration compared to the object with the same mass that was exerted with lower
force.

Theoretical Background

Newton's Second Law of Motion

The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the total unbalanced force exerted on the
object, and is inversely proportional to the mass of the object (in other words, as mass increases,
the acceleration has to decrease). The acceleration of an object moves in the same direction as
the total force or F=ma. This is also known as the law of acceleration.
Relationship between Displacement, Velocity, and acceleration
Displacement, velocity and acceleration are all vectors, meaning that they all represents
magnitude and direction, but they are different in concept. Displacement shows the difference of
the position from the starting point to the final point. The SI unit of displacement is meters (m).
x
Velocity shows the the total displacement overtime ( ) and the SI unit of velocity is meter
t
per second (m/s).Acceleration is present when velocity is not constant, meaning there are
v
changes in speed, direction, or both. It shows the change of velocity overtime ( ) and the
t
s2
SI unit is meter per second squared ( .
m/
Single fixed Pulley
A fixed pulley have a fixed support. The single fixed pulley will only change the direction of the
effort force, not the magnitude of the force (in case of frictionless). Single fixed pulley doesnt
have any mechanical advantages (MA), meaning that it wont help reducing the force needed to
move the object.
Formula used

1) W=mg
2) F=ma
1 2
3) x=V o xt + a t
2

Materials

1. Rope
2. Measuring Tape
3. Masking tape
4. Pulley
5. Stopwatch
6. 100g sand bag
7. 250 g sand bag
8. 500 g sand bag
9. 2 hooks

Procedure

Diagram 1: the illustration of the experiment

PART I
 1) Measure 80 cm straight from the edge of table or lab bench and mark it with
masking tape by making a X with it. This will be your start line
2) Measure 50cm from straight the starting line (or 30 cm from the edge of the table
or lab bench) and mark it with masking tape by making another X with it. This will be
your finish line.
3) Measure and cut 1.2 meters of the rope.
4) Attach the hooks to both the sides of the rope by tying and securing it.
5) Place and secure the pulley at the edge of the table or lab bench.
6) Attach a 50g sand bag to an end of the rope by using the hook.
7) Drape the rope over the pulley, let the side with the sandbag hang down from the
bench . The weight of the hanging sandbag will be the force exerted on the rope (Tension)
8) Attach the other side with a 50g sandbag. Place the sandbag beside the starting
point and hold it in place. Align the system straightly.
9) Let go of the sandbag then time between the starting point and the finish point.
FIll in the data table.
10) Change the hanging sandbag into 100g sandbag. Repeat step 7-9.
11) Change the hanging sandbag into 250g sandbag. Repeat step 7-9.
12) Change the hanging sandbag into 500g sandbag. Repeat step 7-9.
13) Calculate the acceleration and fill in the data table.
14) Graph the result in graph #1.

PART II

1) Change the hanging sandbag back to 100g and change the sandbag at the starting
point into a 50g sandbag. Repeat step 7-9 of part 1.
2) Change the hanging sandbag into a 100g sand bag. Repeat step 7-9 of part1.
3) Change the hanging sandbag into a 250g sand bag. Repeat step 7-9 of part1.
4) Fill in data table 2.
5) Calculate the acceleration
6) Graph the result into graph #2.

Data

Table 1: Force, Mass, and acceleration lab part I

Mass of the hanging Tension (N) Time used to reach Acceleration of the
sandbag (kg) the finish line (Sec) sandbag ( m/s 2 )
Table 2: Force, Mass, and acceleration lab part II
Mass of the sandbag Tension (N) Time used to reach Acceleration of the
on the table(kg) the finish line (s) sandbag ( m/s 2 )

Free body diagram

Draw the free body diagram of the system

Calculations : Show your work

Calculate the acceleration using: 1) Linear motion formula (formula 3)

2) Newtons second law formula (formula 2)
(Use: mass of the hanging sandbag = 250g, mass of the sandbag on the table = 100g)
Graph
Graph #1:Force, Mass, and acceleration lab part I : relationship between hanging mass (force)
and acceleration

Acceleration ( m/s 2 )

Mass (g)

Graph #2: Force, Mass, and acceleration lab part II: relationship between mass of object and
acceleration

Acceleration ( m/s 2 )
 Mass (g)

Results
State the investigations made in the lab
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Analysis

1)What is the relationship between the mass of hanging sandbag, the sandbag on the table, and
the acceleration?
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2) How does this experiment shows Newton's second law?

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3) From your calculations, compare the acceleration calculated from both the linear motion and
Newtons law. Is the acceleration equal? If not, give some reasons why it isnt equal.
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4) What role does the single fixed pulley, hanging sandbag, and the sandbag on the table play in
this lab?
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5) List the possible errors in this lab and suggest the way to improve it.
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6) Is there any of the system tested that didnt move? If yes, state the possible reason.
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Conclusion
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Worklog

Suchanuch Putaprapasri
Background information (relationship between acceleration velocity and
displacement)
Analysis question
Print the document
Prawfah Roruangkul
Writing Purpose
Preparing a pulley, rope, and hooks
An analysis question

Varun Saketharam
Analysis Questions
Bring material (Masking tape)
Editings
Titles

Passawas Satitjindawong
Help in coming up with the lab design

Pichayathida Siriwechdaruk
Coming up with the lab experiment & hypothesis
Coming up an analysis question
Background information (single fixed pulley + equations)
Make diagram
Procedure list
Prepare the materials (sandbags)
Data, graph, and calculation parts
Editing

Thanon Thamvorapol
Bring measuring tape
Editing

Rawisara Thongchantra
Material list
Background information (Newtons second law)
Analysis Questions