TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY OF THE

PHILIPPINES
College of Science
Physics Department

LABORATORY REPORT
[PHETL-M]
[Physics for Engineering Technologists, Lab]

Experiment No. 1
[FORCE TABLE AND VECTOR ADDITION
OF FORCES]

Submitted by:
[BETCPET-1D-M)]
[Group No. 9]
[Names of Group Members]
Bautista, Jherwin G
Maclang, Allana A
Reginio, Carl Jancel R
Santos, Sarah Nicole G.
Sta. Ana, Gabriel C

[March 29, 2022]

Submitted to:
Ms. Ma. Kristina B. dela Cruz
 I. THEORY
Scientific theory is a structured explanation for explaining
a group of facts and phenomena in nature, often including scientific
hypotheses and laws.
• Based on observations, experiments, and inferences that have
been tested and validated to explain and predict natural
phenomena.

II. OBJECTIVES
1. Demonstrate and practice graphical and analytical vector
addition solutions.
2. That used a force table, demonstrate the addition of various
vectors to generate a resultant vector.

III. MATERIALS
1. Force Table
2. Pulleys
3. Ring
4. Set of Mass
5. Weight Hangers

IV. PROCEDURE
1. Set up and level the force table with the center ring and three
Strings.
2. Attach a weight hanger to each string.
3. The knots in the strings at the center ring should be loose
enough that the string can slip freely on the center ring
4. And pull outward in a true radial direction.
5. When the forces are balanced the pin may be carefully removed
to see if the ring is centered around the center table.
 V. DATA AND RESULTS

Data Table 1
Force Mass (kg) Force (N) Direction

F1 0.050 0.490 20°

F2 0.100 0.980 90°

Equilibrant FE1 0.126 1.235 248° or 68° S of W

Resultant FR1 0.126 1.235 68° N of E

Calculations Table 1
Graphical Solution

Force Mass (kg) Force (N) Direction

F1 0.050 0.490 20°

F2 0.100 0.980 90°

Resultant FR1 0.126 1.23 68°

Analytical Solution

Force Mass (kg) Force (N) Direction x-component y-component

F1 0.050 0.490 20° 0.490(cos 0.490(sin 20°)

20°)
F2 0.100 0.980 90° 0.980(cos 0.980(sin
90°) 90°)
Resultant FR1 0.126 1.237 68o N of E 0.460 1.148
GRAPHICAL SOLUTION FOR DATA TABLE 1 (Parallelogram Method)
Scale: 0.100 N = 1cm
PART 1. ERROR CALCULATIONS
Percent Error of magnitude Experimental compared to Analytical = 0.162%
1.237−1.235
%𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = | | × 100 = 0.162%
1.237

Percent Error of magnitude Graphical compared to Analytical = 0.566%

1.237−1.23
%𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = | | × 100 = 0.566%
1.237

Absolute Error in angle Experimental compared to Analytical = 2 degrees

𝑎𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = |68 − 66| = 2

Absolute Error in angle Graphical compared to Analytical = 0 degrees

𝑎𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = |68 − 68| = 0
Data Table 2
Force Mass (kg) Force (N) Direction

F3 0.075 0.735 30°

F4 0.100 0.980 100°

F5 0.050 0.490 145°

Equilibrant FE2 0.166 1.627 268° or 88° S of W

Resultant FR2 0.166 1.627 88° N of E

Calculations Table 2
Graphical Solution

Force Mass (kg) Force (N) Direction

F3 0.075 0.735 30°

F4 0.100 0.980 100°

F5 0.050 0.490 145°

Resultant FR2 0.165 1.62 88°

Analytical Solution

Force Mass (kg) Force (N) Direction x-component y-component

F3 0.075 0.735 30° 0.735 (cos 0.735 (sin

30°) 30°)
F4 0.100 0.980 100° 0.980 (cos 0.980(sin
100°) 100°)
F5 0.050 0.490 145° 0.490 (cos 0.490 (sin
145°) 145°)
Resultant FR2 0.165 1.614 88o N of E 0.065 1.613
GRAPHICAL SOLUTION FOR DATA TABLE 2 (Polygon Method)
Scale: 0.200 N = 1cm
PART 2. ERROR CALCULATIONS
Percent Error of magnitude Experimental compared to Analytical = 0.805%

1.614−1.627
%𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = | | × 100 = 0.805%
1.614

Percent Error of magnitude Graphical compared to Analytical = 0.372%

1.614−1.62
%𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = | | × 100 = 0.372%
1.614

Absolute Error in angle Experimental compared to Analytical = 0 degrees

𝑎𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = |88 − 88| = 0
Absolute Error in angle Graphical compared to Analytical = 0 degrees

𝑎𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = |88 − 88| = 0

VI. DISCUSSION

1. To determine the force acting on each mass it was assumed that g = 9.80 m/s2.
The value of g at the place where the experiment is performed may be slightly
different from that value. State what effect (if any) it would have on the
percentage error calculated for the comparisons. To test your answer to the
question, leave g as a symbol in the calculation of the percentage error.

F=mg
aF/dg = m

aF = m dg

percent error in F = 100aF/F

= 100m ag/ (m g)
= 100 ag/g

2. Two forces are applied to the ring of a force table, one at an angle of 20.00, and
the other at an angle of 80.00. Regardless of the magnitudes of the forces,
describe which quadrant the resultant and equilibrant can be located.

• The equilibrant will be in the third quadrant. The resultant will be in the first
quadrant. Since the equilibrant is the opposite of the resultant, the equilibrant will be
in the opposite quadrant, the third quadrant.

3. Two forces, one of magnitude 2 N and the other of magnitude 3 N, are applied
to the ring of a force table. The directions of both forces are unknown. Which
best describes the limitations on R, the resultant? Explain, carefully the basis
for your answer. (a) R≤5 N (b) 2 N≤R≤3 N (c) R≥3 N (d) 1 N≤R≤5 N (e) R≤2
N.
(D) 1N ≤ R ≤ 5N
If both are in the same direction, net force R= F1 + F2 = 2 + 3 = 5N
If both are in opposite direction, net force R= F2 - F1 = 3 - 2 = 1N

• For the resultant to be the greatest power, all unknown vectors will have to point in
the same direction. The addition of the two forces in the same direction gives us a
combined force of 5N. For the resultant to be, the weakest one, one force will have to
point in the opposite direction to the other. If we connect two forces that point in the
 opposite directions, we are simply subtracting one from the other. This gives us the
weakest force of 1N

4. Suppose the same masses are used for a force table experiment as we used in
Part 1, but each pulley is moved 1800 so that the 0.050 kg mass acts in 2000, and
the 0.100 kg mass acts at 2700. What is the magnitude of the resultant in this
case? How does it compare to the resultant in Part 1?

• Resultants have a direction of 144 degrees N of E and have the same magnitude of
1.235 N to equilibrant however they are the 180 degrees opposite in direction

5. Pulleys introduce a possible source of error because of their possible friction.

Given that they are a source of error, why are the pulleys used at all in this
experiment? What is the function of the pulleys in this experiment?

• The reason pully was used in this experiment. Because the pulley balances the
distributed forces of each weight in each direction and help to maintain the
equilibrium with the pulley the string might slide every time it is place in the force
table making the reading harder and unequal

VII. CONCLUSION

The purpose of this experiment is to gain experience in manipulating vector

quantities, based on experiments that have learned how to find the resultant force of
two forces. By using these methods, we were able to see how each would change.
This method produces slightly different resultant forces and resultant directions.
"Force table" is a simple tool to show Newton's first law and the nature of force
vectors.

VIII. REFERENCES

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxfCRzp6qcY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqUOuY66SDY
https://www.livescience.com/21491-what-is-a-scientific-theory-definition-of-
theory.html?fbclid=IwAR23nXnPo_fT2SCljbsGUOoy-
jLe_q0v2FhHvBfpfU5WKuyVwVNr8Ahhf0M