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2.13.5 Phet Lab Sim Forces & Motion Basics

The document discusses a computer simulation that models forces, friction, and motion. It contains instructions for using the simulation and questions about how applied forces and friction affect the speed and movement of different objects. Users explore how mass, applied force, and friction impact acceleration by manipulating variables in the simulation and recording observations. Formulas for calculating net force, acceleration, and mass are introduced.

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T. Danielle Dockery
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2K views5 pages

2.13.5 Phet Lab Sim Forces & Motion Basics

The document discusses a computer simulation that models forces, friction, and motion. It contains instructions for using the simulation and questions about how applied forces and friction affect the speed and movement of different objects. Users explore how mass, applied force, and friction impact acceleration by manipulating variables in the simulation and recording observations. Formulas for calculating net force, acceleration, and mass are introduced.

Uploaded by

T. Danielle Dockery
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Computer Simulation: Forces, Friction and Motion

Introduction
Today we will learn about how the force put on an object determines how it will move when there is no
friction and when there is friction. Find the appropriate link on my resources page, OR:
1. Go to this address: http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/forces-­­and-­­motion-­­basics and choose
the sim under PHYSICS, MOTION  “Forces and Motion Basics”
Explore
1. Click box next to “sum of forces” and “values,” put men on each side.
2. Hit the “Return” button.

Questions (Answer each question in the space provided)

1. How can you make the blue side win?

2. How can you make the red side win?

3. How can you get a tie on both sides?

4. If there was only one blue man pulling the cart what would the sum of forces consist of

Explain
Title: Forces, Friction, and Motion
Aim: How does applied force and friction affect the speed of an object?
The science concept is: If Sum of forces (or FNET) is not zero, object speeds up or slows down. If FNET is
zero then its speed is constant.

Part I-- Motion


1. Click the tab “Motion”
2. Check the boxes next to “ force, values, masses, and speed”
3. Click the pause button.
4. Place a box on the skateboard. Make applied force 200 in the box.
The screen should look like this:

5. Press the play button. Count to ten, what happens? (Look at the speedometer)

6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 with the refrigerator. (look at the speedometer)

7. Click the “Reset All” button.


8. Repeat steps 2-­­4 using different objects and different applied forces. You can also use the people.
9. What happens to the speed, does it slow down as different objects are added and the applied force is
different?

10. Why do you think this happens


11. How much time does it take for 1 crate, 2 crates, a refrigerator, the man, the girl, and the mystery
object, with same applied force get to maximum speed? Maximum speed is reached when the hand
on the speedometer cannot go any further. (Record your answers in table below.) For the next
part, you will need a timer.

Object Mass Applied force Time (Use stopwatch)


(Newtons)
1 crate 300N
2 crates 300N
Refrigerator 300N
Man 300N
Girl 300N
Mystery Object ? 300N

12. Do you think the object’s mass determines how long it will take for that object to reach maximum
speed with an applied force of 300 N? Yes or No, and explain your answer.

13. What approximate mass do you think the mystery box has, based on how long it took to reach
maximum speed at 300N?

Part II--Friction
1. Click the tab “Friction”
2. Check the boxes next to “ forces and speed”
3. Place the refrigerator on the screen. Type 500 in the box.
The screen should look like this:
4. What happened? Did the refrigerator move?

5. Click the “Reset All” button.


6. Check the boxes next to “values and speed”
7. Place the refrigerator on the screen. Type 500 in the box. Slide the friction tab toward “None”.
8. What happens as you slide the friction tab closer to “None”?

9. Click “Reset All”.

10. Check the boxes next to “values and speed”


11. Place any object on the screen. You can also place the people on the screen.
12. Type 500 in the box. Slide the friction tab toward “None” or “Lots”. Stop the friction tab where
the friction force arrow is between 100N and 200N.
13. Complete the table. Fill in the missing values for Applied and Friction Force.

Object Applied Force (N) Friction Force (N) Sum of Forces (or
FNET) (N)
Crate 200 125
Man 472 272
Refrigerator 51 99
Girl 363 100
Garbage Can 500 375

*You can use the Friction Tab to help you check your answers.

Come up with a formula we can use to find the sum of the forces (orFNET).
Here are a few suggestions: FNET = Fapplied -­­ Ffriction or FNET = Fapplied + Ffriction Write your answer
below:

14. Calculate the Sum of Forces using the formula you came up with.

15. Click the “Sum of Forces” box. Did you get the same number using the formula you came up with?
Apply
Now we will call all applied forces positive and all friction forces negative.
Use the equation to complete the table. Fill in the missing values.
Object Applied Force (N) Friction Force (N) Sum of Forces, FNET
(N)
Box -­­210 190
Man 350 274
Refrigerator -­­137 363
Girl 200 122
Garbage Can -­­50 100
Mystery Object 300 175

1. How does the force placed on an object affect how it moves?

2. What happens if there is too much friction? Will the object move slowly, fast or not at all?

3. What if only a little friction is added, how will the object move?

Part III-- Acceleration -­ Click the tab “Acceleration”


1) Use the simulation to answer each of the questions below:
How do you make the box speed up? I make the box speed up by…

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

How do you make the box move at a constant speed? I make the box move at a constant speed by…

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Once the box is moving how do you make it stop?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Once the box is moving how do you make it change direction?

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Describe the motion the box undergoes when you make it change direction.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What is the acceleration of each item? I did the first one. Check my answer. Then find the acceleration
of all the others.
Object Mass Acceleration Force

Young Woman 40 kg 10 m/s2 400 N

Man in Suit 80 kg 400 N

Bucket 50 kg 500 N

4) Use the table above for the next questions:


a) How do you find force? (State the equation using words).
Force=
b) How do you find acceleration?
Acceleration =
c) How do you find mass? (State the equation using words).
Mass =
5) How much force would the orange man need to use for the 200-­­kg fridge to accelerate at 5
m/s2?

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