INTRODUCTION

We know objects can only accelerate if there are forces on the object.
Newton's second law tells us exactly how much an object will accelerate for a given
net force. Newton's second law of motion pertains to the behavior of objects for
which all existing forces are not balanced. The second law states that the acceleration
of an object is dependent upon two variables - the net force acting upon the object
and the mass of the object. The acceleration of an object depends directly upon the
net force acting upon the object, and inversely upon the mass of the object. As the
force acting upon an object is increased, the acceleration of the object is increased.
As the mass of an object is increased, the acceleration of the object is decreased.

In this experiment we have verified the relationship between a body’s

acceleration and net force and between acceleration and mass.

ANALYSIS

The second law explains how the velocity of an object changes when it is
subjected to an external force. The law defines a force to be equal to change in
momentum (mass times velocity) per change in time. Newton also developed the
calculus of mathematics, and the "changes" expressed in the second law are most
accurately defined in differential forms. For an object with a constant mass m, the
second law states that the force F is the product of an object's mass and its
acceleration a:

𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎
For an external applied force, the change in velocity depends on the mass of the
object. A force will cause a change in velocity; and likewise, a change in velocity
will generate a force. The equation works both ways.

In this experiment, motion of the objects moves along a straight line and is
therefore classified as a one-dimensional motion. The moving object or the dynamics
cart will be represented as a particle in kinematics and the dynamic cart is considered
moving along the x-axis.

OBJECTIVES

The main objectives of this experiments are to:

 To verify the direct proportionality of acceleration and net force if the mass
of the body is constant and
 To verify the inverse proportionality of acceleration and mass if the net force
is constant.
MATERIALS

The materials used in the experiment were provided for by Mapua Univeristy-
Department of Physics. The materials and apparatus that were provided for by the
school were.

 1 pc. Dynamics Track with pulley

 1 pc. Dynamics cart
 2 pcs. Photogates
 1.5 m String
 1 pc. Smart Timer
 1 pc. Meter stick
 1 pc. Set of weights
 1 pc. Weights hanger

The use of the dynamics tracks and carts in the experiment will act as a
demonstration of all the laws of motion. The smart timer and two photogates were
used in determination of time traveled of the dynamic cart between the photogates.
In order for the photogates to record the time travel, a picket fence will be placed in
the dynamic cart and will act as a detection tool for the photogates.

In the first part of the experiment, the students must verify the direct
relationship of the acceleration and net force given constant mass of the body. Before
being able to achieve this goal, the students must first follow the lab manual that was
provided for by the instructor on how to set-up the apparatus properly. The positions
of the first and second photogates, the dynamics track, and the pulley was set up
according to the exact positions indicated in the manual. The string in the hook will
be tied to the dynamics cart and will be put on the pulley wheel. The time of travel
and acceleration was computed. These will be used to either prove or disprove the
first objective of this experiment.

For the results of the first part of the experiment wherein the mass of the cart
was at a constant mass of 0.5192 kg, the first trial had a hanging weight of 20 g or
0.0200 kg with a net force of 0.196 N, the travel time recorded was 1.7977seconds,
and the computed experimental value of acceleration was 0.3094 𝑚〖/𝑠〗^(−2)
thus getting a margin of error of 14.8831%. The second trial had a hanging weight
of 60 g or 0.0600 kg with a net force of 0.5880 N, the travel time recorded was
1.0203 seconds, and the computed experimental value of acceleration was 0.9606
𝑚〖/𝑠〗^(−2) thus getting a margin of error of 11.9119%. Lastly, the third trial
had a hanging weight of 100 g or 0.1000 kg with a net force of 0.980 N, the travel
time recorded was 0.7953 seconds, and the computed experimental value of
acceleration was 1.5810 𝑚〖/𝑠〗^(−2) thus getting a margin of error of 0.1074%.

The second part of the experiment, students need to verify if there will be an
inverse relationship of the acceleration and mass given that the net force or the
hanging mass is constant. The same set-up was done with the first part, but the
difference is that the net force, which is the hanging mass, will be constant at 0.980
kg.

For the result of the second part of the experiment wherein the hanging mass
was constant at 100 g or 0.100 kg and the net force at a constant 0.9800 N, the first
trial had the mass of the cart at 519.2 g or 0.5192 kg (no weights added) and the time
travel recorded was 0.7953 seconds and the computed experimental value for
acceleration was 0.1074 𝑚/𝑠^(−2) thus getting a margin of error of 0.1074%. The
second trial had the mass of the cart at 619.2 g or 0.6192kg ,100 g of weights added,
and the time travel recorded was 0.0.9241 seconds and the computed experimental
value for acceleration was 1.7110 𝑚/𝑠^(−2) thus getting a margin of error of
14.0613%. Lastly, the third trial had the mass of the cart at 819.2 g or 0.8192 kg ,
300 g of weights is weight added, and the time travel recorded was 1.0375 seconds
and the computed experimental value for acceleration was 0.9290 𝑚/𝑠^(−2) thus
getting a margin of error of 12.8599 %.

GUIDE QUESTIONS

From the results of part A, how would you relate the acceleration of the cart
to the total hanging weight?

 Newton’s second law states that the net force is equal to the product of
mass and acceleration. Base on the results of part A, the total hanging
weight and the cart are directly proportional. The net force applied is
the total hanging weight to the object with a mass that will make the
object accelerate.

From the results of part B, how would you relate the acceleration of the cart
to its total mass?

 From the results of part B, as the cart increases with mass having the
net force constant, the cart slows down or the acceleration decreases.
Therefore the acceleration is indirectly proportional to the total mass.
The cart with the greater mass needs greater amount of net force to
accelerate just like as stated in newtons second law of motion.

List down the possible sources of errors in this experiment

 Human error
  Dynamics track and the dynamics cart

 Photogates

 Smart timer.

CONCLUSION

Therefor I conclude:

 That the objective of this experiment was achieved; to prove that the theory
of newton is correct and accurate.

 That the magnitude of acceleration is directly proportional with the net force
acting upon the object

 That the magnitude of the acceleration is inversely proportional to the mass if

the object being accelerated.

 That when the mass increases then the time decreases, hence it is inversely
proportional.

 That there were some errors that will occur at some point because of human
errors and because of the materials used.

Newton’s 2nd law states that the acceleration of an object is dependent upon
two variables - the net force acting upon the object and the mass of the object. In the
experiment it was proven that the acceleration of the dynamic cart has a direct
relationship with the net force, the hanging mass, given that the mass is constant. In
the graphs provided, the greater the force applied on the object, the faster
acceleration, meaning that the magnitude of acceleration is directly proportional
with the net force acting upon the object.

In the second experiment, it was also proven that the acceleration of the
dynamic cart has an indirect/inverse relationship with the mass of the dynamic cart
if the hanging mass is constant. Meaning, • That when the mass increases then the
time decreases, hence it is inversely proportional. Less mass, faster acceleration.

The margin of error for some trials were greater than 10 % and some were
close to 1%. We can consider some human error like the slight push on the release
od the dynamics cart can greatly affect the results especially when we are talking
about difference in milliseconds. Also, we were advised by our professor to put the
cart closes to the first photogate to ensure that the initial velocity of the cart will be
zero.