Applied Physics Lab (DL Mode)

Report # 3

Submitted by: Group A4

ME-12 (C)

Members:
➢ Syed Tallay Haider
➢ Syed Muhammad Hassan Kazmi
➢ Muhammad Haroon

Submitted to: Madam Ayesha Zaheer

School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (SMME)

National University of Sciences and Technology
(NUST) H-12, Islamabad
 Experiment#1
Kinematics (Average vs instantaneous velocity)
Abstract:
In this lab session, we calculate the instantaneous velocity, deceleration and theoretical
time taken for a PAScar to stop on a very low friction track. This 2.2 m aluminium track
has two groves to guide the wheels of carts, a metric scale for measuring car positions,
and T-slots on both sides for attaching end stops, levelling feet and other accessories.
Theory:
The average velocity of the PAScar is simply given as distance D covered by PAScar per
unit the time taken to cover this distance before it stops.
𝐷
Vav = 𝑇

Keeping the acceleration of the PAScar constant, the instantaneous velocity of PAScar is
given as:
V0 = 2𝑉𝑎𝑣 = 2DT

The acceleration a mentioned earlier is calculated by the following expression using the
instantaneous velocity found in the previous step:
V0 0−V0 −2𝐷
a= = =
𝑇 𝑇 𝑇2
The time taken by PAScar is noted with the help of a stopwatch. However, time taken
by the PAScar to stop can be calculated theoretically by using the second equation of
motion:
1
d = V0 t + (2) 𝑡12

Data Analysis:
d= 59cm
No. Of Experimental values Theoretical %Error
Obs.
values
D T V0 a t1 t1 %
cm sec cms-1 cms-2 sec sec
1. 53 4.55 23.30 -5.12 1.36 1.90 28.42
2. 59 4.78 24.69 -4.66 1.38 1.73 20.23
3. 58 5.09 22.79 -4.48 1.35 1.88 28.19
Calculations:
Calculation No.1
d= 35cm
The time t1 of the car to travel 59cm is = 1.36s
The time T of the car to stop is = 4.55s
The distance of the car to stop is D =53cm
𝟐𝑫 2(53) 106
Instantaneous velocity of car is Vo = = = 4.55
𝑻 4.55

Vo = 23.30 cms-1
𝟐𝑫 𝟐(𝟓𝟑)
Acceleration is a = - 𝑻𝟐 = - (𝟒.𝟓𝟓)𝟐

𝟏𝟎𝟔
= - 𝟐𝟎.𝟕𝟎

a = -5.12 cms-2
Now theoretically calculating the time t1:
Put values in this equation d = Vot + 1/2 at12
35= (23.3)t1 + ½ (-5.12)t21
2.56t12 – 23.3t1 +35= 0
Solving the quadratic equation we get the value of time t1 = 1.90 s
𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆−𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆
%difference = ×100
𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆

1.90 − 1.55
= × 100 = 28.42%
1.90
Calculation No.2
d= 35cm
The time t1 of the car to travel 59cm is = 1.38s
The time T of the car to stop is = 4.78s
The distance of the car to stop is = 59cm
𝟐𝑫 2(59) 118
Instantaneous velocity of car is Vo = = = 4.78
𝑻 4.78

Vo =24.69 cms-1
𝟐𝑫 𝟐(𝟓𝟗) 𝟏𝟏𝟖
Acceleration of the car is a = - 𝑻𝟐 = - = - 𝟐𝟐.𝟖𝟓
(𝟒.𝟕𝟖)𝟐

a = -5.16cms-2
Now theoretically calculating the time t1:
Put values in this equation d = Vot + 1/2 at12
35= (24.69)t1 + ½ (-5.16)t21
 0=2.58t12 – 24.69t1 +35
Solving the quadratic equation, we get the value of time t1 = 1.73 s
𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆−𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆
%difference = ×100
𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆

1.73−1.38
= × 100 =20.23%
1.73

Calculation No.3
d= 35cm
The time t1 of the car to travel 59cm is = 1.35s
The time T of the car to stop is = 5.09s
The distance of the car to stop is = 58cm
𝟐𝑫 2(58) 116
Instantaneous velocity of car is Vo = = = 5.09
𝑻 5.09

Vo =22.79 cms-1
𝟐𝑫 𝟐(𝟓𝟖) 𝟏𝟏𝟔
Acceleration of the car is a = - 𝑻𝟐 = - = - 𝟐𝟓.𝟗𝟏
(𝟓.𝟎𝟗)𝟐

a = -4.48cms-2
Now theoretically calculating the time t1:
Put values in this equation d = Vot + 1/2 at12
35= (22.79)t1 + ½ (-4.48)t21
0=2.24t12 – 22.79t1 +35
Solving the quadratic equation, we get the value of time t1 = 1.88 s
𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆−𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆
%difference = ×100
𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆
1.88−1.35
= × 100 =28.19%
1.88

Conclusion:
In this experiment, the fixed distance for the PAScar was assumed to be 35cm for which
six sets of reading were taken to evaluate the instantaneous velocity, acceleration and
theoretical time which it takes to stop. The calculated time was then compared to
experimentally noted time and the error in the value of time was found to be ranging
from 20.23% to 28.4%.
 Experiment#2
Kinematics
Coefficient of Friction
Abstract:
In this lab session, the coefficient of friction as well as the table angle for the track of
PAScar is calculated. For this purpose, the acceleration for up slope as well as down
slope of PAScar is determined by noting time it takes for the PAScar to stop on the
calibrated and frictionless track.
.
Theory:

When the PAScar is set down on horizontal frictionless track with a small value of
downslope then the acceleration is calculated as follows:

a1 = + gsin𝜽 - 𝝁𝒓 𝒈
The acceleration of the car when the slope is minutely raised by using thin sheets of
paper is given by the expression:

a2 = - gsin𝜽 - 𝝁𝒓 𝒈

Here 𝝁𝒓 is the coefficient of kinetic friction and 𝜽 is the slope angle

The numerical value of acceleration can be determined by noting the time the PAScar
takes before it comes to rest in both cases which have been mentioned above using the
following equation:

−𝟐𝑫
a=
𝒕𝟐
Data Analysis:
For Down Slope:

No. of Distance Time

Obs d t

(cm) (s)

1 72.5 5.86

2 78.2 6.53

3 75.3 6.1

Avg= 75.33 6.16

For Up Slope:

No. of Distance Time

Obs d t

(cm) (s)

1 43 3.8

2 40 3.38

3 46 4.75

Avg= 43 3.98

Calculation:
For Down Slope acceleration:

The acceleration ‘a’ for this case is given as:

−2𝑑
a1 =
𝑡2
−2(75.33)
a1 =
(6.16)2
a1 = −3.97 cm/s2

For Up Slope acceleration:

The acceleration ‘a’ is given as:

−2𝑑
a2 =
𝑡2
−2(43)
a2 =
(3.98)2
a2 = −5.42 cm/s2
For the value of 𝛍𝒓

As:
a1 = + gsin𝜽 - 𝝁𝒓 g
a2 = - gsin𝜽 - 𝝁𝒓 g

Adding the above 2 equations we get:

a1 + a2 = -2µrg
-3.97-5.42 = -2µr(980)
µr = 0.0047

For the value of 𝜽

As:
a1 = + gsin𝜽 - 𝝁𝒓 g
a2 = - gsin𝜽 - 𝝁𝒓 g
Subtracting second equation form first equation we get:
𝑎1 − 𝑎2 = 2g sin θ
−3.97 + 5.42 = 2 × 980 × sin θ
1.45 = 1960 sin 𝜃
𝜃 = sin-1(1.45/1960)
𝜃 = 0.042°

Conclusion:
In this experiment, the value of coefficient of friction as well as the floor angle were
calculated using the noted values of acceleration. For downslope, slope the value of
acceleration i.e a1 was found to be −3.97 cm/s2 and for up slope the value of
acceleration i.e a2 was calculated as −5.42 cm/s2. Using these values, the coefficient of
friction i.e µr was found to be 0.0047 and the table angle i.e 𝜃 was determined to be
0.042°.
 Experiment#3
Newton's Second Law
(Predicting Accelerations)
Abstract:
In this experiment, acceleration was calculated by utilising newton’s second law.
The PAScar is attached to a pulley with a hanger where mass is incrementally added
and varied. It accelerates down the path. Time is noted for each observation.

Theory:
Newton’s second law gives states that a force acting on a mass produces acceleration in
its direction. Mathematically:
F=ma
As we’re comparing the downwards force caused by the mass in the hanger and the one
exerted by the PAScar, we replace the left hand side with mg where m is the mass in the
hanger, g is gravitational acceleration (980 cm/s²) and we replace the right hand side
with Matheo where M is the total mass of the car and atheo is the theoretical acceleration.
So the equation becomes:
mg = Matheo
The theoretical acceleration is calculated by the formula:
atheo = mg/M
Afterwards, the experimental acceleration is calculated by the formula:
aexp = 2D/T²
The two values are then compared and percentage error is calculated as such:
Percentage error = [(atheo – aexp) / atheo] × 100

Data Analysis:
Total Mass M= 866 gm
Distance = 44 cm
Trial Mass Average Acceleration Acceleration Percentage
(g) time
(theoretical) (experimental) Error
(s)
cm/s² cm/s² %
1. 5 4 5.65 5.5 2.65
2. 10 2.85 11.31 10.83 4.24
3. 20 1.89 22.63 24.63 8.12
4. 30 1.63 33.94 33.12 2.41
5. 50 1.19 56.58 62.14 9.83
Calculation:
Theoretical acceleration:
atheo = mg/M
atheo = (5 × 980) / 866
atheo = 5.65 cm/s²

Experimental acceleration:
aexp = 2D/T²
aexp = (2 × 44)/ (4)²
aexp = 5.5 cm/s²

Percentage error:
Percentage error = [(5.65 – 5.5) / 5.65] × 100
Percentage error = (0.15 / 5.65) × 100
Percentage error = 2.65 %

Conclusion:
In this experiment, the distance d for the PAScar was fixed at 44cm. Seven trials were
conducted with varying value of m and seven measurements of time were recorded.
These values of time were used to calculate an experimental value for acceleration of
the system. The theoretical value of acceleration for each trial was also calculated and
both values compared. The error in the value of acceleration ranged from 2.41% to
9.83%.