SPH4UP – Group ​5:​ Anthony Alfino, Colin Linhares, Jaden Loyola, Peter Nicholson

Lab Activity – Analyzing Circular Motion 

Purpose 
To determine the relationship between the frequency of an object's uniform circular
motion and

● The magnitude of the force causing the circular motion?

● The radius of the circular path?
● The mass of the object?

Materials 
Gizmo - Uniform Circular Motion (login at ​https://www.explorelearning.com/​ )

Explore the Gizmo and become familiar with its controls.

Adapted from Nelson Physics 12 pg. 152 – 153 “Investigation 3.1.1: Analyzing Uniform Circular Motion”
Procedure 

Part A – Varying the Centripetal Force

During this part of the lab, the mass of the puck ​(m)​ and the length of the string ​(r)​ will
be kept constant. The magnitude of the centripetal force will be varied by changing the
magnitude of the velocity.
1) Set the mass and the radius to the values listed at the top of Table A below.
Record the initial position of the puck.
2) Set the velocity to the value listed in the first row of the table below.
3) Click ​Play ​and allow the simulation to run for ​three​ complete cycles. Click on the
“Table” tab and find the time for 3 cycles. (Note: find the time in the table with an
x and y value which is closest to the x and y value of the initial position. Make
sure the time you found corresponds to the ​third time​ the puck was at the initial
position).
2
4) Calculate the magnitude of the centripetal force using F C = mvr
5) Repeat steps 3 and 4 for the remaining values of ​v.
6) Calculate the frequencies f = ( number of cycles
Δt )
and tabulate the data.

Table A
Mass = 1.0 kg Radius = 8.0 m
Initial position = (8.00 , 0.00)
Velocity FC Time (s) Freq. (Hz)
(m/s)

2.0 0.5N 75.4s 0.04Hz

4.0 2N 37.7s 0.08Hz
6.0 4.5N 25.1s 0.12Hz

Part B – Varying the Radius Distance

During this part of the lab, the mass of the puck ​(m)​ and the magnitude of the centripetal
force ​(FC​ ​) ​will be kept constant. The radius of the circular path will be varied.
1) Set the mass to the value listed at the top of Table B below.
2) In order to keep ​F​C​ ​constant in this simulation, an appropriate velocity must be
assigned for each radius listed in the table. To calculate the velocity required,
2
rearrange F C = mvr and solve for ​v​.
3) Set the radius to the first value listed in the table below. Record the initial
position of the puck in the table.
4) Click ​Play ​and allow the simulation to run for ​three​ complete cycle. Click on the
“Table” tab and find the time for 3 cycles. (Note: find the time in the table with an
x and y value which is closest to the x and y value of the initial position. Make
sure the time you found corresponds to the ​third time​ the puck was at the initial
position).
5) Repeat steps 2 to 4 for the remaining values of ​r.
6) Calculate the frequency f =( Δt )
number of cycles
and record it in the table.
Table B
Mass = 1.0 kg F​C​ = 4.5 N
Initial
Radius (r) Required velocity
position Time (s) Freq. (Hz)
(m) (v)
(x,y)
5.0 4.7m/s (5.0, 0.0) 20.1s 0.15Hz
6.5 5.4m/s (6.5,0.0) 22.7s 0.13Hz
8.0 6.0m/s (8.0, 0.0) 25.1s 0.12Hz

Part C – Varying the Object’s Mass

During this part of the lab, the length of string ​(r) ​and the magnitude of the centripetal
force ​(FC​ ​) ​will be kept constant. The mass of the puck will be varied.
1) Set the radius to the value listed at the top of Table C below.
2) In order to keep ​F​C​ ​constant in this simulation, an appropriate velocity must be
assigned for each mass listed in the table. To calculate the velocity required,
2
rearrange F C = mvr and solve for ​v​.
3) Set the mass to the first value listed in the table below. Record the initial position
of the puck in the table.
4) Click ​Play ​and allow the simulation to run for ​three​ complete cycle. Click on the
“Table” tab and find the time for 3 cycles. (Note: find the time in the table with an
x and y value which is closest to the x and y value of the initial position. Make
sure the time you found corresponds to the ​third time​ the puck was at the initial
position).
5) Repeat steps 2 to 4 for the remaining values of ​m.
6) Calculate the frequency f = ( Δt )
number of cycles
and record it in the table.
Table C
Radius = 8.0 m
Initial position = ​(8.00 , 0.00)
F​C​ = ​ 4.5 N
Object Mass Required
(kg) Time (s) Freq. (Hz)
velocity
1.0 kg 6.0m/s 25.1s 0.12Hz

2.0 kg 4.2m/s 35.9s 0.08Hz

3.0 kg 3.5m/s 43.1s 0.07Hz

Analysis 
1) Draw an FBD of the mass in circular motion in this investigation.

2) The equation relates the three variables that we manipulated,

and the frequency of an object in circular motion. When the equation is
rearranged and isolated for frequency, it looks like this;
For each part, substitute the values for the variables that are held constant into the
equation isolated above and solve for a value ‘k’. Show the equation for each part of
the activity​.
3) Create a graph (using Desmos is preferred) for each part of the lab, and paste it
onto this page, or a link. Plot frequency in the y-axis and the independent
variable in the x-axis. Label the axis and graph appropriately

Part A - Frequency Compared to Centripetal Force

https://www.desmos.com/calculator/ybnec48whg

Part B - Frequency Compared to Radius

​https://www.desmos.com/calculator/qhceq0qvru
 Part C - Frequency Compared to Mass

https://www.desmos.com/calculator/dq8fwd1ods

**Refer to above tables for plotted values**

4) To each graph, add the following specific trendline, and compare your value of k
to the ones calculated in step 2.

The k value in which we solved for in all three graphs were similar. The rounded
numbers were the same as which we solved for yet if we took extra digits for our
values they would also be the same. The trendlines shown in the pictures below are
the ones which we solved for. The trendline given in the chart above overlaps the
trendline we found thus proving that our values were correct. Two out of three
graphs saw all three points landing on the trendline passing through it and the third
saw the three points touching it but none having it pass through it. This proves that
our calculations are correct.
Part A - Frequency Compared to Centripetal Force

https://www.desmos.com/calculator/5bfnb2okwj

k value=0.0566 (equal to k value calculated in step 2)

Part B - Frequency Compared to Radius

https://www.desmos.com/calculator/k3lzwmsgut

k value=0.335 (equal to k value calculated in step 2)

 Part C - Frequency Compared to Mass

https://www.desmos.com/calculator/ssavweyn0n

k value=0.118 (equal to k value calculated in step 2)

**To view full graphs use provided link**

Conclusion 

a) Describe the sources of systematic and human error in this investigation, as well
as ways to minimize them.

In this investigation, we encountered multiple sources of human error. Inputting the

incorrect values for mass, radius, and velocity were errors we could have possibly made
that could have changed the outcome of our investigation. To minimize this, we made
sure to follow the procedure according to what it said and completed it step by step
carefully. In addition, reading the table of values wrong could have led us to wrong
answers and change the way our graphs looked on desmos. For example,
misinterpreting the values as negative could have changed our trendlines, giving us no
proof whether or not our calculations were correct. To minimize this, we would
thoroughly go over the table of values more than once to make sure we understand and
are not misinterpreting anything. One of the easiest human errors we could have made
was in our actual calculations. Misusing or even using the incorrect formulas would
negatively affect our final results and lead us to false calculations. To minimize this error
as much as possible, we would run it through with more than 1 person to verify that our
calculations were accurate and if the formulas were used correctly. All in all, the human
errors we faced were all simple errors that could easily be corrected and minimized
through double checking and revising our work.
In terms of systematic errors, the online lab activity only allows one decimal place for
the velocity, which may result in a slightly different centripetal force each time the test is
run even though it is supposed to be constant. This may result in slightly different k
values that represent the constant values of the activity. It would be difficult to minimize
this error. One thing you could do is to find a different activity that includes the option of
more than one decimal place, so the centripetal force would be closer to the constant
for each test run and you would get more accurate information.

b) Explain how this investigation illustrates all three of Newton’s laws of motion.

The first law states, “An object either remains at rest or continues to move at a constant
velocity unless acted upon by a force.” In this investigation, we see this through the
puck moving along a circular path. We were able to control the radius of the circle and
the mass of the puck, but in terms of how it illustrates Newton’s first law, this information
is miniscule to understanding how Newton’s first law comes into play. The important
part of this investigation was seeing the constant force acting on the puck known as the
centripetal force. The centripetal force is what pushes it toward the center and keeps
the puck moving along a circular path, resulting in the uniform circular motion.
Furthermore, from Newton’s second law, we understand that an object accelerates only
when there is an unbalance of forces, as we also know the total net is equal to the
puck's mass times its acceleration. In this investigation, the puck is in uniform circular
motion and it attains this with the net force and acceleration being directed inwards.
Once again, this is due to the centripetal force in the lab activity that illustrates Newton’s
second law. Regarding Newton’s third law stating, “For every action, there is an equal
and opposite reaction” it is illustrated in this investigation through the centripetal force
and centrifugal force. Both of these forces are equal in magnitude and end up being
balanced. The centripetal force acts as the action and the centrifugal force acts as the
reaction, as they are also opposite in direction.