Circular motion experiment

Introduction:
The force needed for the rubber stopper to maintain a uniform circular motion is provided by the
force Fc as shown above. The magnitude of this force is given as

Fc = mv2/r

Fc

Weight

This force is always directed towards the center of the circle hence its name centripetal force.

This experiment is based on circular motion. The equation for this experiment is

1 g 1 g
2
= 2 × M . In the form of y=mx+c , 2 is the y and is the m , also known as the
T 4 π rm T 4 π 2 rm
gradient. In theory, the value of c should be 0 as it is a directly proportional graph. The M is the
x of the equation. M refers to the weights attached to the end of the string. It is the independent
variable. This experiment investigates how the weights attached to the end of the string can
affect the time taken for one oscillation to be completed. The equation from above is derived

v2
from the equation a= . Speed is constant or is supposed to be kept constant in this
r

distance
experiment so we can use the equation v= ; in this case the distance travelled is the
time
circumference of the circle created by swinging the rubber stopper. Circumference is given by

2 πr v2
the formula 2 πr so v= . This equation is then substituted into a= , so it becomes
T r

2 πr 2
a=
( )
T . According to Newton’s second law of motion, F=ma , which can be changed to
r

F
a= . In this experiment, the centripetal force is caused by gravitational force, so F=W =Mg.
m
The M here refers to the mass of the weights attached to the end of the string while the m refers

Mg 4 π 2 r
to the mass of the rubber stopper. Further substitution forms the equation = 2 . To make
m T

4 π 2 rm
the equation simpler, the equation Mg= is derived. T 2is supposed to be the subject of
T2
the equation since the period (time taken to complete one revolution) is the dependent variable
that is being investigated. By making T 2the subject, the relationship between the period and the

4 π 2 rm
other components of the equation can be clearly seen. T = 2
. As a linear graph needs to
Mg
be plotted afterwards, the equation needs to be in the form of y=mx+c , where x is the
independent variable which is M . In order to change it into the the form of y=mx+c , the whole

1 Mg
equation is inversed. The final equation formed is 2
= 2 which is actually the same as the
T 4 π rm

1 g
equation 2
= 2 × M . In this form, a linear relationship can be seen from the equation.
T 4 π rm
However, there is no c or rather, the value of c is 0. In a linear equation, c is the y-intercept. If
the y-intercept is 0, this means that the plotted line will pass through the origin, thus the graph is
a directly proportional graph. However, this is only the theory part and there are many other
factors that may affect the results when conducting the experiment practically. The accuracy
and the precision of the results can be calculated by comparing the true value and experimental
value of m , which is the mass of the rubber stopper.
Hypothesis:
The mass affects the speed at which the rubber stopper rotates and thus the time taken for the
rubber stopper to complete one revolution. The heavier the mass of the masses attached to the
string, the shorter the time taken for rubber stopper to complete one revolution.

Aim:
To investigate uniform circular motion

Independent variable:
The weights attached at the end of the string.

Dependent variable:
The time taken for the rubber stopper to complete one revolution.

Constant variable:
 Length of string
 Type of string
 Mass of rubber stopper

Materials and apparatus:

 Plastic handle
 Weights
 Weight hanger
 Paper clips
 String
  Stopwatch
 Rubber stopper

Procedure:
1. Thread the string through the hole in the rubber stopper and tie the string back onto itself
2. Thread the free end of the string through the plastic handle. The length of the string
between the rubber stopper and the bottom of the handle should be approximately 50.0
cm.
3. Hold the free end of the thread firmly in one hand and the handle in the other. Make sure
you have an area clear of people and furniture then begin to swing the rubber stopper
slowly in a horizontal circle overhead.
4. Swing the rubber stopper at a constant speed and slowly let some thread out to
increases the radius of the circle.
5. After you have got a feeling for the apparatus, make some quantitative measurements of
the centripetal force.
6. Return the string to its original length and slip a paper clip over the thread just below the
handle. Tie a loop in the free end of the tread. Hang the weight hanger and a sufficient
amount of weights on the weight hanger.
7. Slowly begin to swing the rubber stopper overhead. Increase the speed of the rotation
until the marking paper clip is just below the bottom of the handle (DO NOT TOUCH
THE HANDLE). The centripetal force and the gravitational force (due to the weights and
weight hanger) are in equilibrium when the paper clip marker is stationary.
8. Measure the period of the rubber stopper by timing 30 revolutions. The average speed is
the circumference divided by the period.
9. Tabulate the results accordingly.
Set up:

Plastic handle
Rubber stopper

Crocodile clip

Weights

Rubber stopper
Plastic handle

Crocodile clip
Data tabulation:
T for 1 1/T^2 /s^-
T for 30 revolutions/s revolution/s T^2 / s^2 2

M/g 1 2 3 4 Average
40 19.65 19.25 18.23 20.05 19.30 0.643 0.413 2.421
50 19.04 15.71 19.17 20.20 18.53 0.618 0.382 2.617
60 17.87 17.07 15.77 16.90 16.90 0.563 0.317 3.154
70 14.67 17.30 14.73 14.95 15.41 0.514 0.264 3.788
80 14.47 15.25 15.37 15.44 15.13 0.504 0.254 3.937
90 14.23 14.42 13.93 15.23 14.45 0.482 0.232 4.310
 100 14.15 15.30 13.25 14.25 14.24 0.475 0.225 4.444

Data analysis:
4 π 2 rm
Mg=
T2
Gradient of best fit line
= 0.03656428571
g
=¿gradient
4 π 2 rm
9.8 1
m=( )( )
4 π r gradient
2

9.8 1
m=( )( )
2
4 π (0.38) 0.03656428571
m=17.87 g

m=0.01787 kg

% error=|(0.01787−0.01276)/0.01276|×100
¿ 40.05 %

Error discussion and evaluation:

The precision of the results is high as the points are very close to the best fit line drawn. This
shows that there are very few random errors or that the effect of random error is small. The
reason for this may be the repetition of trials. Usually, trials are only needed to be repeated 3
times but in this case, we have taken extra precaution steps and repeated 4 times to reduce the
effect of the random error. The number of revolutions can also have an impact on the precision
of the results. The higher the number of revolutions, the smaller the effect of the random errors,
thus the higher the precision. However, the number of revolutions should be fixed throughout
the whole experiment. For this experiment, the number of revolutions is 30 oscillations.
Random errors still exist and one of the examples is the starting point and ending point of one
revolution may not be the same. Since 2 different people are recording time and counting
revolutions, time recorded may be delayed by human reaction time. According to theory, the
bottom of the plastic cylinder is supposed to stay at the mark throughout the whole counting
process (radius remains the same). However, in practical, this may be hard to achieve as the
mark is small and it is difficult to ensure that the bottom of the cylinder remains at the mark
throughout the experiment. This will alter the radius, thus affecting the result. From the equation

v2
a= , reducing the radius will increase the acceleration, thus making the stopper spin faster,
r

1
reducing time taken. When plotting the graph, this makes the value of 2 greater. On the other
T
hand, using the same equation, increasing the radius will decrease the acceleration, thus
making the stopper spin slower, increasing the time taken. When plotting the graph, this makes

1
the value of smaller. The accuracy of the results is low. According to the equation
T2

4 π 2 rm
Mg= , The graph is supposed to be a directly proportional graph. From the graph above,
T2
the best fit line drawn does not pass through origin. The true value given is 0.01276 kg. The
experimental value found is 0.01787 kg. The percentage of error is 40.05%. This value is very
high which again shows that the accuracy is very low. Accuracy is linked to systematic errors so
this means that there are a lot of systematic errors or that the effect of the systematic error is
very huge. One possible systematic error may be the effect of air movement. The experiment is
conducted in an air conditioned room. The air conditioner provides extra air movement which
will affect the speed of oscillations. In order to improve on this area, one of the ways is to repeat
the whole experiment in a room without any air conditioner or fan. Although there may still be air
movement in the room due to the random movements of air particles (brownian motion), the
effect of the air movement is reduced. Another systematic error may be the inconsistent
thickness of the string. As the experiment is being conducted, the string becomes thinner due to
the friction between the string and the plastic cylinder. However, the effect of this error is very
minimal and will only affect the accuracy of the results slightly. One improvement that can be
made is to use a new string, with the same material and the same length, for every new trial.
Although this may make the results slightly more accurate, this is very time consuming to be
carried out and may even lead to more random errors such as variation in viewing the mark of
metre rule when cutting the string. The reliability of the results is difficult to be discussed as the
mass of the rubber stopper and the length of the string (radius) are different for similar
experiments done by other people. The validity also cannot be discussed as the procedure is
given.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, the results of this experiment does not prove that the equation of

1 g
2
= 2 × M is true. However, this does not mean that the equation is wrong. The accuracy
T 4 π rm
of the results is very low due to the systematic errors that were found during the experiment.
The hypothesis is proven to be true as it is seen from the best fit line drawn that as M , mass of

1
the masses attached to the end of the string, increases, also increases, which means T
T2
decreases. There are a few limitations that are found in this experiment. One of the limitations is
that it is conducted by human. When swinging the rubber stopper, the arm of the person
swinging gets tired after a few trials. There are two consequences for this. The number of
oscillations set in the beginning of the experiment cannot be too high as the person may not be
able to finish the experiment. This means that the reduction of the effect of random error by
repetition can only be increased until a certain extent. This leads to low precision. The second
consequence is that the speed cannot be kept as constant all the time. As trials are being
conducted, the person swinging the rubber stopper may get tired and the speed may reduce.
This affects the accuracy of the results as it also changes the radius. When the speed is
reduced, the bottom of the plastic cylinder will not stay at the mark. This will change the radius,
thus making the results inaccurate. The only way to improve this is to use a machine to conduct
the experiment, which becomes a total different case. Overall, the experiment conducted has
proven the hypothesis true, the aim is reached and the inaccuracy is justified.