FIS- School of Biosciences 1

Taylor’s University

Practical 4 - Circular Motion

Name : Natasha Anne Binti Mohammed Noor Azam

Student ID : 0326416

Group Members : 1. Natasha Anne Binti Mohammed Noor Azam

2. Shoban Raja A/L Sivaji Raja

Date of Experiment: 30th March 2016

Report due date: 11th April 2016
Report submission date: 11th April
2016
Checked by:
Foundation of Science
Item/marks
School of Biosciences Format/10
Abstract and Introduction/10
Taylor’s University Figures and Diagrams/15
Materials and Method/10
Results Discussions/45
References/10
Total
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Malaysia

Contents

Abstract...........................................................................................................................................3

1.0 Introduction...............................................................................................................................3

2.0 Experimental Design.................................................................................................................6

2.1 Materials................................................................................................................................6

2.2 Methods..................................................................................................................................7

2.3 Procedure...............................................................................................................................8

3.0 Results and Discussion..............................................................................................................9

4.0 Conclusions and Recommendations..........................................................................................9

References.....................................................................................................................................13
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ABSTRACT

The purpose of this lab is to study centripetal force and how it is affected by radius of the circular
motion. The purpose of this experiment is to determine the relationships between radiuses, mass,
velocity and centripetal force of a spinning body. We used logger pro to accurately measure the
orbital period of the spinning mass and used these measurements to determine the interrelated
interactions of the specified properties and viewed the results graphically.

1.0 INTRODUCTION

If a mass follows a circular path, it is acted on by a centripetal (“centre-seeking”) force. An example

of this would be a person swinging a rubber stopper attached to a string in a circular motion above
his head. When the person is doing this, he will feel the string experience a certain amount of
tension. In this case, the tension in the string causes the rubber stopper to follow a circular path.

If the rubber stopper is spinning in a circular path at a constant velocity then we can derive the
equation to describe the centripetal force from Newton’s Second Law,
. Giving the final equation,
ms v 2
F cp= =m h g (1)
r

Where,
T = the tension in the string g = gravitational acceleration
mH = hanging mass r = radius of the circular patah
ms = stopper mass Fcp = centripetal force

In this experiment, we want to examine how the radius of the circular motion affect the centripetal
force acting on the mass. To do so, we need to be able to determine the velocity of the mass that is
undergoing circular motion. To do so we look at the basic formula for velocity,
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displacement s
velocity , v= =
time t

The displacement, s of an object that is undergoing circular motion can be said to be the
circumference of the circular motion (assuming that the circular motion occurs only in one flat
plane). So by assuming that the object is mobbing along the circumference of the circle while in
circular motion, we can modify the velocity formula into this form,

2 πr
v= (2)
T

Hence, we can now substitute the velocity equation into the previously derived centripetal force
equation which will give the form

F cp=m¿ ¿ (3)

2.0 EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Fig. 4.1. Experimental set up

2.1 MATERIALS

 Plastic tube
 Marker pen
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 String
 Stopwatch
 Electronic balance
 Rubber Cork
 Metre ruler

2.2 METHODS

In experiment part A, we started by clamping down the projectile launcher to the side of a lab table
as we made sure that the bold is tightened. On the adjacent table, we laid down a wooden board.
Then, we covered it with 6 A4 papers taped down to the board to keep them in place. We then
covered the A4 papers with carbon papers. We adjusted the projectile launcher to an angle of 30°.
We then loaded the metal ball into the launcher and triggered the launcher. Furthermore, we repeated
the launch at the same angle twice to obtain an average measurement. When the metal ball misses the
spot where there is carbon paper, we repeated the launch after shifting the carbon paper to a more
ideal position. We shifted aside the carbon paper to have a look at the marking left by the metal ball
on the A4 paper. We measured the distance of the projectile using a measuring tape and crossed out
the previous markings to avoid confusion. We recorded the results into Table 1.1. Then, we repeated
the experiment but with launch angles up to 70 degrees in intervals of 10 degrees for each repetition.

In part B, we set up the experiment by clamping the projectile launcher to the side of a lab table but
this time the angle is adjusted to 0 degrees. Next, we set up A wooden board, A4 papers and carbon
papers on the floor directly in front of the projectile launcher. Furthermore, we loaded the metal ball
was into the launcher and triggered the launch. We recorded the distance of the impression and
repeated the launch 2 more times. We tabulated the results in a table such as the one shown in Table
1.2 and the average reading was acquired to determine the initial launch velocity.

2.3 PROCEDURE

1. Measure the mass of the flat cylindrical load.

2. Set up the experiment as shown in Fig. 4.1.

3. Tie the rubber cork with one end of the thread firmly
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4. Measure 15 cm of thread from the cylindrical load and mark it with a marker.

5. Slowly swirl and gradually accelerate the cylindrical load in a circular motion while
maintaining the circular motion as close to the horizontal plane as possible.

6. Once the circular motion is steady, take the time required to perform 10 revolutions.

7. Perform the measurement for another 2 times and take the average reading.

8. Repeat the experiment with thread lengths of 30 cm and 45 cm.

9. Tabulate and analyse the data in tables as shown in Table 4.1 and Table 4.2.

3.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

TABLE 4.1

Mass of Radius of Total time to complete 10 revolutions (s) Period, T

rubber motion, R (s)
cork, m (g) (m) 1 2 3 Average
16.6 0.15 4.44 4.38 4.50 4.44 0.94
16.6 0.30 5.78 6.09 5.87 5.91 1.88
16.6 0.45 6.62 6.50 6.75 6.62 2.83

TABLE 4.2

Radius if motion, R Centripetal force, Fcp

Period, T (s) Velocity, v (m/s) V2 (m2/s2)
(m) (N)
0.15 0.94 0.21 0.04 111.25
0.30 1.88 0.32 0.10 55.63
0.45 2.83 0.43 0.18 36.82
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DISCUSSION

1. Plot a graph of v2 against r. Comment on what the graph that you have obtained mean in
regards to the accuracy of your experimentation. (Hint: examine the gradient)

Graph of velocity against radius

0.2
0.18
0.16 f(x) = 0.47 x − 0.03
0.14
Velocity (V2)

0.12
0.1
0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02
0
0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5
Radius (m)

Linear ()

The graph of Force versus Velocity-squared produces the most linear result.

By analysing both the graphs above, we can see that as velocity increases, so does the centripetal
force. This means that velocity and force are directly related. This is further reinforced by the
equation of centripetal force:
2
⃗F = Mv (−r^ )
R
Notice that if we plot Force on the y-axis and v-squared on the x-axis, this is effectively a straight
line:

y=mx +b compared to F=( slope ) v 2 + ( y−i ntercept )

The variance in the data is most likely due to a variable tilt on the system due to the acceleration due
to gravity.

2. Predict how would changing the mass affect the centripetal force experienced by the object
and explain your prediction.
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4.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Throughout the experiment, a mathematical correlation between the initial velocity of the ball and
the distance it travelled was found. Although it yielded some error compared to its theoretical
counterpart, it was nonetheless sound in form. So, basically the experiment was done to determine
the range and the initial velocity of the projectile motion. In conclusion, the range of the projectile is
affected by the angle at which the ball was shot or any other projectile and the initial velocity of the
projectile motion was determined from the measured range.

The air resistance acting on the ball was not taken accounted for. In the formulas stated above, there
is no relation of velocity with the mass. So, basically, it can be said that the mass of the projected
object does not contribute to the velocity of the ball.

It is important that the markings on the A4 paper is immediately crossed out after each launch to
avoid human error where confusion occurs as to which markings indicated which launch.
Furthermore, the bolt most be ensured that it is tightened well so that the force of the projectile
launcher is kept constant thus the initial velocity of the projectile motion is kept constant. Lastly,
make sure that the projectile launcher is clamped properly onto the lab table after each launch so that
it doesn’t shift during each launch conducted.

REFERENCES

[1] R. Resnick and D. Halliday, "Physics", The Physics Teacher, vol. 16, no. 5, p. 334, 1978.

[2] H. Benson, University physics. New York: J. Wiley, 1991.

[3] R. A. Serway, J. S. Faughn, C. Vuille and C. A. Bennett, "Vectors and Two-Dimensional

Motion", Enhanced College Physics, vol. 2, pp. 53-72, 2006.

[4] "Projectile Motion (Theory) : Mechanics Virtual Lab (Pilot) : Physical Sciences : Amrita Vishwa
Vidyapeetham Virtual Lab", Vlab.amrita.edu, 2011. [Online]. Available: http://vlab.amrita.edu/?
sub=1&brch=74&sim=191&cnt=1. [Accessed: 25- Mar- 2016].
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[5] "OpenStax CNX", Cnx.org, 2011. [Online]. Available:

http://cnx.org/contents/A36Wgc4c@18/Features-of-projectile-motion. [Accessed: 25- Mar- 2016].