Experiment 3

Newton’s second law on Atwood’s machine

3.1 Objective:

To predict the acceleration of an Atwood Machine by applying Newton’s 2nd Law and use the
predicted acceleration to verify the equations of kinematics with constant acceleration.

3.2 Apparatus:

o Atwood’s machine pulley

o Calibrated slotted masses,
o mass hanger (holders)
o Stop watch
o strong thin nylon string,
o meter stick
o Lab stand

3.3 Theory
The Atwood’s Machine is a simple machine that consists of a pulley of negligible mass and
friction over which two masses are suspended. When the suspended masses are unequal, the
system will accelerate in the direction of the larger mass.
The relationship between the net force F exerted on a mass m and the acceleration of the mass
is Newton’s Second Law.

F= (3.1)

The system shown in Figure 5-1 is called an Atwood’s machine. It consists of two masses at the
ends of a string passing over a pulley. Also shown in the figure is a free-body diagram of the
forces. For m2 > m1, Equation 1 applied to each mass gives

− 1 = 1 and 2 − = 2 (3.2)

Where T is the tension in the string, and a is the magnitude of the acceleration of either mass.
Combining Equations 2 leads to

( 2 − 1) =( 2 + 1 ) (3.3)
Figure 3-1 Atwood’s machine and free-body diagram of the forces on each mass.

Equation 5.3 states that a force (m2 - m1) g equal to the difference in the weight of the two masses
acts on the sum of the masses (m1 +m2) to produce an acceleration of the system. There will be
a frictional force f in the system that opposes the applied force (m 2-m1) g. Including the frictional
force but moving it to the other side of the equation gives

( 2 − 1) =( 2 + 1 ) + (3.4)

An Atwood’s machine is shown in Figure 5-2 where m2> m1, the mass m1 is initially on the floor,
and m2 is released from rest at distance x above the floor at t=0. Successive positions of the two
masses are shown in Figure 5-2 at later times until the final picture shows m 2 as it strikes the floor
at some time t after its release. The relationship between the distance x, the acceleration of the
system, and the time is

x= (3.5)
Figure 5-2 Atwood’s machine as mass m2 falls a distance x in time t.

Solving Equation 5 for in terms of the measured quantities x and t gives

a= (3.6)

This laboratory will measure the acceleration for the Atwood’s machine for several different values
of the applied force (m2 - m1) using a fixed total mass (m1 + m2). Because the pulley is not
massless, some portion of its mass should be included in the total mass. You will be challenged to
discover what fraction of the pulley’s mass should be included when you analyze the data that you
will take in the laboratory.

3.4 Procedure:

Use a length of string such that when one mass holder is on the table, the other is between 50
cm and 60 cm above the table. Make sure that one mass holder is directly in front of the
meter stick.

Double-check that there is 10 g of mass on each holder and move the system so that
both masses are at the same level. No motion should occur.

While gently holding the system (place your finger under the mass holder), obtain a
difference of 1 gram between the sides. Let go of the mass holder to see if the system
moves. If the system does not move, see if it will move if you very gently tap the larger
mass. If the system still does not move, continue adding masses and tapping the heavier
 mass until the system does move. Record the additional mass required to start the system
moving.

1. With an equal total mass on each side, remove a 10gram mass from the side
farthest from the meter stick (m1) and add it to the side in front of the meter
stick, m2, thus making the mass difference between the two 10g.
2. Pull m1 (the light side) down to the table and hold it in place. Read the distance
of m2 (the heavy side) above the table by sighting across the bottom of the mass
holder to the meter stick.
3. Record this distance in the data table as x. (use the same distance for all trial).
4. Release the lighter mass; the heavier mass will then fall to the table.
5. Use a stopwatch to determine the time required for the heavier mass to fall.
6. Record the time in the data table as t. Perform a total of three trials.
7. Repeat step 2-6 using mass difference (m2-m1)

3.5 Data table;

Trial 1 (g) 2 (g) 2- 1 x (m) t (s) a (m/s) f (kg m/s2)

Average

Average

3.6 Data Analysis:

1. Calculate the forces (m2 -m1) g using g=9.800m/s2.

2. Calculate the mean time t and the standard error at for the three measurements of time at
each of the mass differences (m2 - m1).
3. Use Equation3. 6 to calculate the acceleration a from x and ̅ for each value of applied
force.
3.6 Question

1. Describe the basic concept of the Atwood’s machine.

2. What is the net applied force? What is the mass to which this net force is applied? Show
your work.
3. An Atwood’s machine consists of a 1.060kg mass and a 1.000kg mass connected by a
string over a massless and frictionless pulley. Use Equation 3 to find the acceleration of
the system. Assume that g is 9.80 m/s2. Show your work.
Experiment 3
Newton’s second law on Atwood’s machine
3.1 Objective:

To predict the acceleration of an Atwood Machine by applying Newton’s 2nd Law and use the
predicted acceleration to verify the equations of kinematics with constant acceleration.

3.2 Apparatus:

o Atwood’s machine pulley

o Calibrated slotted masses,
o mass hanger (holders)
o Stop watch
o strong thin nylon string,
o meter stick
o Lab stand

3.3 Theory
The Atwood’s Machine is a simple machine that consists of a pulley of negligible mass and
friction over which two masses are suspended. When the suspended masses are unequal, the
system will accelerate in the direction of the larger mass.
The relationship between the net force F exerted on a mass m and the acceleration of the mass
is Newton’s Second Law.

F= (3.1)

The system shown in Figure 5-1 is called an Atwood’s machine. It consists of two masses at the
ends of a string passing over a pulley. Also shown in the figure is a free-body diagram of the
forces. For m2 > m1, Equation 1 applied to each mass gives

− 1 = 1 and 2 − = 2 (3.2)

Where T is the tension in the string, and a is the magnitude of the acceleration of either mass.
Combining Equations 2 leads to

( 2 − 1) =( 2 + 1 ) (3.3)
Figure 3-1 Atwood’s machine and free-body diagram of the forces on each mass.

Equation 5.3 states that a force (m2 - m1) g equal to the difference in the weight of the two masses
acts on the sum of the masses (m1 +m2) to produce an acceleration of the system. There will be
a frictional force f in the system that opposes the applied force (m 2-m1) g. Including the frictional
force but moving it to the other side of the equation gives

( 2 − 1) =( 2 + 1 ) + (3.4)

An Atwood’s machine is shown in Figure 5-2 where m2> m1, the mass m1 is initially on the floor,
and m2 is released from rest at distance x above the floor at t=0. Successive positions of the two
masses are shown in Figure 5-2 at later times until the final picture shows m 2 as it strikes the floor
at some time t after its release. The relationship between the distance x, the acceleration of the
system, and the time is

x= (3.5)
Figure 5-2 Atwood’s machine as mass m2 falls a distance x in time t.

Solving Equation 5 for in terms of the measured quantities x and t gives

a= (3.6)

This laboratory will measure the acceleration for the Atwood’s machine for several different values
of the applied force (m2 - m1) using a fixed total mass (m1 + m2). Because the pulley is not
massless, some portion of its mass should be included in the total mass. You will be challenged to
discover what fraction of the pulley’s mass should be included when you analyze the data that you
will take in the laboratory.

3.4 Procedure:

Use a length of string such that when one mass holder is on the table, the other is between 50
cm and 60 cm above the table. Make sure that one mass holder is directly in front of the
meter stick.

Double-check that there is 10 g of mass on each holder and move the system so that
both masses are at the same level. No motion should occur.

While gently holding the system (place your finger under the mass holder), obtain a
difference of 1 gram between the sides. Let go of the mass holder to see if the system
moves. If the system does not move, see if it will move if you very gently tap the larger
mass. If the system still does not move, continue adding masses and tapping the heavier
 mass until the system does move. Record the additional mass required to start the system
moving.

1. With an equal total mass on each side, remove a 10gram mass from the side
farthest from the meter stick (m1) and add it to the side in front of the meter
stick, m2, thus making the mass difference between the two 10g.
2. Pull m1 (the light side) down to the table and hold it in place. Read the distance
of m2 (the heavy side) above the table by sighting across the bottom of the mass
holder to the meter stick.
3. Record this distance in the data table as x. (use the same distance for all trial).
4. Release the lighter mass; the heavier mass will then fall to the table.
5. Use a stopwatch to determine the time required for the heavier mass to fall.
6. Record the time in the data table as t. Perform a total of three trials.
7. Repeat step 2-6 using mass difference (m2-m1)

3.5 Data table;

Trial 1 (g) 2 (g) 2- 1 x (m) t (s) a (m/s) f (kg m/s2)

Average

Average

3.6 Data Analysis:

1. Calculate the forces (m2 -m1) g using g=9.800m/s2.

2. Calculate the mean time t and the standard error at for the three measurements of time at
each of the mass differences (m2 - m1).
3. Use Equation3. 6 to calculate the acceleration a from x and ̅ for each value of applied
force.
3.6 Question

1. Describe the basic concept of the Atwood’s machine.

2. What is the net applied force? What is the mass to which this net force is applied? Show
your work.
3. An Atwood’s machine consists of a 1.060kg mass and a 1.000kg mass connected by a
string over a massless and frictionless pulley. Use Equation 3 to find the acceleration of
the system. Assume that g is 9.80 m/s2. Show your work.