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First Class Lever Lab

This document summarizes a lab experiment on first class levers. The purpose was to determine the relationship between mass and distance from the fulcrum needed for static equilibrium. Various masses were tested, and the results showed that greater masses needed to be closer to the fulcrum. The relationship was determined to be m = 0.14/(kg^1.1), where m is the distance and kg is the mass. This equation closely matched the experimental data.

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Michael Mohamed
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2K views3 pages

First Class Lever Lab

This document summarizes a lab experiment on first class levers. The purpose was to determine the relationship between mass and distance from the fulcrum needed for static equilibrium. Various masses were tested, and the results showed that greater masses needed to be closer to the fulcrum. The relationship was determined to be m = 0.14/(kg^1.1), where m is the distance and kg is the mass. This equation closely matched the experimental data.

Uploaded by

Michael Mohamed
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX or read online on Scribd
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First Class Lever Lab

SPH4U0-C
February 4th, 2009
Michael Mohamed

Introduction: A fulcrum is a structure on which a lever can be placed as a means


of balancing out forces; in a First Class Lever the fulcrum is set between the lever
and the forces balanced or applied are on opposing sides of the fulcrum. The in
order to set a First Class Lever into a state of Static Equilibrium, the work being
applied on both sides of the fulcrum must be equal; because work is force over
distance this means that loads of greater mass (greater force) must be placed
closer to the fulcrum than those of lesser mass. A fulcrum is one of the most simple
machines known to mankind; it was first modeled by Archimedes in Greece who
once claimed that given a great enough lever, he could balance the weight of the
Earth. By taking advantage of this means of applying small amounts of force over
great distances to exert great force over small distances, a great deal of mechanical
efficiency can be achieved.

Purpose:
a) To determine the relationship between suspended masses and their
distances from the fulcrum needed to put a First Class Lever into Static
Equilibrium with a 500g load.
b) To develop the equation for the relationship.

Materials:
Fulcrum Meter Stick Retort Stand
Retort Clamp String Measured Masses

Method:
1. A 500g mass was suspended 30cm from the fulcrum located in the middle
of the meter stick. This load remained unchanged.
2. The load was balanced with a 1500g mass, suspended from the level on
the opposite side of the fulcrum.
3. When the lever was in static equilibrium, the distance of the 1500g mass
from the fulcrum was recorded in a data table.
4. Steps #2 and 3 were repeated with the following masses: 1200g, 1000g,
800g, 600g, 400g

Observations:
Mass (kg) Distance from the
Fulcrum (m)
1.5 0.091
1.2 0.119
1.0 0.143
0.8 0.182
0.6 0.246
0.4 0.373

Log(Mass(kg Log(Distance from the Fulcrum


)) (m))
0.18 -1.04
0.08 -0.93
0 -0.84
-0.1 -0.74
-0.22 -0.61
-0.4 -0.43

Results:
– See back for hand drawn graph and calculations.
– In the hand drawn equations, the final equation is m = 0.14/(kg^1.1), this
matches the values calculated using OpenOffice Calc relatively closely.
– The relation constant R2 is equal to exactly 1 in both the original values
and the logarithmic values.
– The exponent is calculated as 1.1 in the hand calculated equation and
1.06 in the OOCalc equation. % Error = ((1.1-1.06)/1.06)*100 = 3.8%

First Class Lever Lab First Class Lever Lab


Mass (kg) vs Distance (m) Log(Mass (kg)) vs Log(Distance (m))
0.4 0
0.35
f(x) = 0.14 x^-1.06
R² = 1 -0.2 f(x) = -1.05x - 0.85
Log(Distance (m))

0.3 R² = 1
Distance (m)

Column B -0.4 log y


0.25
Pow er Re- Linear Re-
0.2 -0.6 gression for
gression f or
0.15 Column B log y
-0.8
0.1
-1
0.05
0 -1.2
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 -0.6 -0.4 -0.2 0 0.2 0.4
Mass (kg) Log(Mass (kg))

Discussion:
a. Distance when mass = 500g.
– m = 0.14/(kg1.1) = 0.14/(0.51.1) = 0.30m = 30cm.
b. Distance when mass = 50g.
– m = 0.14/(kg1.1) = 0.14/(0.051.1) = 3.78m = 378cm.
c. Mass when distance = 2cm from the fulcrum.
– m=0.14/(kg1.1), kg = (0.14/m)(1/1.1) = (0.14/0.02)(1/1.1) = 5.87kg = 5870g.
d. Mass when distance = 150cm from the fulcrum.
– kg = (0.14/m)(1/1.1) = (0.14/1.5)(1/1.1) = 0.12kg = 120g.

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