Exercise 6: Atwoods Machine

Arianne Michelle L. Arceo, Hanna R Atis., Shaidina Mia Mae P. Bercero, Guinevere Paul
M. Pontejos, Mark Leonard S. Silaras
University of the Philippines Visayas Tacloban College, Magsaysay Blvd., Tacloban City,
Leyte, Philippines 6500
Abstract
One way of illustrating Newtons law of acceleration is by the use of the Atwoods
machine. A small net force is applied to two unequal masses connected by a string over a
pulley. Each of the masses are pulled by gravity so that the difference of the weights will reduce
the unequal force that will accelerate the one mass upward and the other downward. The
purpose of this paper is to test Newton's 2nd Law of Motion by utilizing an Atwood machine
apparatus. The Atwood machine will be used to study the relationship between mass,
acceleration and net forces, with the distribution of the mass between the two weights being
the independent variable and the time the dependent variable within the experiments.
Results show the measurements of the different variables and were calculated using the
different formulas in relation to Newtons 2nd Law of Motion. The data gathered were
interpreted using statistical methods of dealing with errors.
Keywords: Atwoods machine, Newtons 2nd law of motion, mass, force, acceleration due to
gravity
Introduction when the other is at the pulley. One mass
was tapped so the system moved with
An Atwood's Machine consists of
uniform speed. After doing so, another
two objects of different masses hanging
slotted mas was added. Once it was
vertically over a friction-less pulley of
released, the time was recorded according
negligible mass. When the system is
to the motion of the machine as one of the
released, the heavier mass accelerates
masses reached the floor. The masses used,
downward while the lighter mass
the time elapsed and the distance travelled
accelerates upward at the same rate.
were all recorded. Each student were able
Through this machine, acceleration will be
to conduct 10 trials for this exercise.
determined from the time measurement
data and will be compared with the value Results and Discussion
calculated from the known masses.
Table 1. Measurements of the plotted dots
Materials and Methodology from curve track set-up

An improvised Atwoods machine T

A (m/s2)
r
was made through the use of a pulley, iron m1 m2 W1 W2 t S
i
(kg) (kg) (N) (N) (s) (m)
stand, masses and string. The pulley was a TV EV
l
mounted 1.38m above the floor. A string Student 1
was passed through the pulley and equal 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.8
slotted masses was connected on each end. 1 45 90 41 82
0.580 0.380 3.260 2.259

It was made certain that the string should be 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.8
2 45 90 41 82
0.550 0.380 3.260 2.512
just enough for one mass to reach the floor
 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.8 1 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.5
3 45 90 41 82
0.630 0.380 3.260 1.915 0.680 0.380 4.900 1.644
0 20 60 96 88
0.0 0.0 0.4 0.8 Student 4
4 45 90 41 82
0.610 0.380 3.260 1.246
0.0 0.0 0.3 0.5
0.0 0.0 0.4 0.8 1 0.450 0.380 1.960 3.753
5 45 90 41 82
0.640 0.380 3.260 1.855 40 60 92 88
0.0 0.0 0.3 0.5
0.0 0.0 0.4 0.8 2 0.430 0.380 1.960 4.110
6 45 90 41 82
0.670 0.380 3.260 1.693 40 60 92 88
0.0 0.0 0.3 0.5
0.0 0.0 0.4 0.8 3 0.380 0.380 1.960 5.263
7 45 90 41 82
0.610 0.380 3.260 2.042 40 60 92 88
0.0 0.0 0.3 0.5
0.0 0.0 0.4 0.8 4 0.380 0.380 1.960 5.263
8 45 90 41 82
0.660 0.380 3.260 1.744 40 60 92 88
0.0 0.0 0.3 0.5
0.0 0.0 0.4 0.8 5 0.380 0.380 1.960 5.263
9 45 90 41 82
0.610 0.380 3.260 2.042 40 60 92 88
0.0 0.0 0.3 0.5
1 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.8
0.650 0.380 3.260 1.800
6 40 60 92 88
0.440 0.380 1.960 3.926
0 45 90 41 82
0.0 0.0 0.3 0.5
Student 2 7 40 60 92 88
0.430 0.380 1.960 4.110
0.0 0.0 0.2 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.5
1 30 60 94 88
1.330 0.380 3.260 0.429 8 0.430 0.380 1.960 4.110
40 60 92 88
0.0 0.0 0.2 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.5
2 30 60 94 88
1.130 0.380 3.260 0.595 9 0.440 0.380 1.960 3.926
40 60 92 88
0.0 0.0 0.2 0.5 1 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.5
3 30 60 94 88
1.160 0.380 3.260 0.565 0.410 0.380 1.960 4.521
0 40 60 92 88
0.0 0.0 0.2 0.5
4 30 60 94 88
1.240 0.380 3.260 0.494 Sample Calculations
0.0 0.0 0.2 0.5
5 1.240 0.380 3.260 0.494
30 60 94 88 12 = 12 (9.8 )
0.0 0.0 0.2 0.5 2
6 1.130 0.380 3.260 0.595
30 60 94 88
0.0 0.0 0.2 0.5 12 = 0.045(9.8 2 )
7 30 60 94 88
1.200 0.380 3.260 0.528
0.0 0.0 0.2 0.5
8 1.130 0.380 3.260 0.595 12 = 0.441
30 60 94 88
0.0 0.0 0.2 0.5 2 1
9 30 60 94 88
1.050 0.380 3.260 0.689 = =
1 + 2
1 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.5
1.050 0.380 3.260 0.689
0 30 60 94 88

Student 3
0.0 0.0 0.1 0.5 0.090(9.8 2 ) 0.045(9.8 2 )
1 0.580 0.380 4.900 2.259 =
20 60 96 88
0.045 + 0.090
0.0 0.0 0.1 0.5
2 0.640 0.380 4.900 1.855
20 60 96 88
0.0 0.0 0.1 0.5 = 3.260
3 0.610 0.380 4.900 2.042 2
20 60 96 88

4
0.0 0.0 0.1 0.5
0.740 0.380 4.900 1.388
2
20 60 96 88 = =
0.0 0.0 0.1 0.5
2
5 0.740 0.380 4.900 1.388
20 60 96 88 2(0.38)
0.0 0.0 0.1 0.5 =
6 20 60 96 88
0.650 0.380 4.900 1.799 (0.580)2

7
0.0 0.0 0.1 0.5
0.730 0.380 4.900 1.426
20 60 96 88 = 2.259
0.0 0.0 0.1 0.5 2
8 20 60 96 88
0.740 0.380 4.900 1.388
|2.2593.260|
0.0 0.0 0.1 0.5 % = 3.260
100= 30.71%
9 20 60 96 88
0.650 0.380 4.900 1.799
 In an Atwood's machine apparatus two
sets of unequal masses are suspended from
a string on either side of a pulley. The larger
mass, m2, provides a net force, Fnet = (m2-
m1)g, thereby causing both masses to
accelerate according to Newton's 2nd Law
of Motion, Fnet = (m1+m2)g. Combining
these 2 equations, the acceleration can be
calculated by the equation, TV= [(m2-m1)/
(m1+m2)]g. It is also possible to determine
the acceleration of the 2 masses by
measuring the time it takes for the masses
to descend a distance y to the floor, using
the equation, EV=a= 2s /t2. This was the
equation used in determining the
experimental result. Fig. 1. An improvised Atwoods Machine

In the first experiment set, it became

apparent that as the mass was increased on
both sides with the same mass difference, it
took the heavier side longer to touch the
ground, and the acceleration is increasing.
This is was expected. From the equation,
TV= [(m2-m1)g/ (m1+m2)], the denominator
is increasing and the numerator is constant
therefore acceleration is increasing. If
acceleration is increasing the measured fall
time must decrease from the equation EV=
2s/t2. This was also seen in the results where
most of the recorded was less than a minute.
It was a matter of milliseconds between the
results. However, there has been a
discrepancy in the theoretical and
Fig. 2. Measuring (s) for the equation EV= 2s/t2
experimental results due to the inaccuracy
of the time that was recorded. The time was Conclusion
too fast to be recorded accurately, thus an
In this exercise, the group was able to
experimental error was expected from this
identify the acceleration of the mass, both
aspect. A normal stopwatch from a
theoretical and experimental acceleration,
cellphone that was operated manually by a
in the Atwoods machine through the use of
single tap would have not been accurate due
the formulas in relation to Newtons 2nd
to the slight lag period from tapping the
Law of Motion. However, certain human
stopwatch. It was observed that even the
errors were observed thus an inaccurate
slightest difference in the millisecond
result was obtained.
would give a drastic change in the result.
References
Dejeto, Rodrigo V., Physics 51.1 General
Physics Laboratory Manual I, UPV
Tacloban College
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