Experiment 8 – FORCE TABLE

To study the resultant of forces by vector addition, using force table

(Component method of vector Addition)

Equipment

1 Force table complete set with Pulleys, 3 Hangers, 1 Plastic ring, Spool of thread,
Meter ruler, Masses and Protractor sheets
Introduction

The purpose of this experiment is to use the force table to experimentally

determine the force which balances two other forces acting on the same object
(knot). The result is checked by adding the two forces using the component method
of adding the vectors. The Equilibrium force balances the Resultant force. The
figure below shows the forces.

→
−⃗
E =⃗
R R
→ →
⃗
R =⃗
A +⃗
B B A

→
E

In this experiment the resultant force ⃗R is found by adding the two vector forces ⃗A
and ⃗B using their component. Two forces are applied by hanging masses over
pulleys positioned at certain angles. Then the angles and masses hung over a third
pulley is adjusted until it balances the other two forces, and this third force is
called the Equilibrant force, ⃗E , since it is the force which establishes equilibrium.

The equilibrant force vector is not the same as the resultant force vector, ⃗E ≠ ⃗R. The
resultant force is the addition of the two forces. While the equilibrant force is equal
in magnitude to the resultant force but in the opposite direction, |⃗E|=|⃗
R| , because it
balances the resultant. Therefore, equilibrant force vector is the negative of the
resultant force vector, −⃗E =⃗R.

The two forces are added together by adding their x and y components. First the
two forces are broken into their x and y -components using trigonometry;
⃗
A=A x i^ + A y ^j and ⃗
B=B x i^ +B y ^j
Where Ax is the x - component of vector ⃗A and i^ is the unit vector in the x direction.
See the figure below, to determine the sum of vectors ⃗A and ⃗B, the components are
added to get the components of the resultant vector ⃗R .
⃗ ^
R =( A ¿ ¿ x + B x ) i+(A ¿ ¿ y + B y ) ^j=R x i^ + R y ^j ¿ ¿
y

To complete the analysis, the resultant force must be in the form of a magnitude
and a direction (angle). So the components of the resultant (Rx and Ry) must be
combined using Pythagorean theorem since the components are at right angle to
each other. Using the trigonometry gives the reference angle  of the resultant
force. Note that the real direction of the resultant force is the angle R which is
measured from positive x - axis anticlockwise.

Ry
|⃗R|=√ R2x + R2y and tanφ=
Rx

Set up and procedure

1. Remove the three legs from the clip on the bottom of the plastic force table disk.

2. Screw the legs into the holes on the bottom of the disk.

3. Attach three pulleys and the clamps to the rim of the disk. If more than two
forces are to be added, use the desired number plus one pulley and one clamp for
the equilibrium.

4. Cut down 60 cm lengths of string and tie them together to the ring to form a Y
shape.

5. Put each of the string over the pulley and tie a mass hanger on the end of each
string.

Note: A string can be attached to the mass hanger by wrapping the string several
times around the notch at the top of each mass hanger.

6. Use three Pulleys (two for the forces that will be added and one for the force that
balances the sum of the two forces) using the anchor string method.

7. Hang the masses on the hangers according to the values given in the table below
using the appropriate angles and measure the balancing force for each run. Fill out
the table provided in the result section.

8. Perform the balancing of forces. The ring should be centered over the hole in the
middle of the center post as the system is in equilibrium. The anchor string should
be slack. Adjust the pulleys downward until the ring is completely in the middle of
the force table. Check to see the ring returns to the center if not, adjust the mass or
the angles of the third pulley until the ring always returns to the center when the
thread is slightly disturb from the balanced position.

9. Adjust the angle and the mass of the third pulley so that it balances the forces
exerted on the string by the other two forces. The third force is called the
equilibrant force ⃗E , since it is the force which establishes equilibrium. The
equilibrant is the negative of the resultant force ⃗R ;
−⃗
E =⃗
R∧¿ ⃗
R =⃗
A +⃗
B

10. Fill out the table in part a in the result sheet using the component method to
calculate the magnitude of the resultant force R and its direction R.
11. Use the provided protractor sheets and draw the forces A , B, R and E for each
run.

12. For each run compare the magnitude of the resultant force R with the
magnitude of the equilibrant force E and find the % error.
|R−E|
% Error= ×100 %
R

13. For each run compare the direction of the resultant force A with the direction
of the equilibrant force E and record your observation in the calculation sheet.
What can you conclude?

14. Repeat the above procedure using three forces A, B and C and balancing them
with a fourth force E. Fill out the table in part b in the result sheet. Use the
provided protractor sheets and draw the forces A, B, C, R and E.

Results and Calculations

a) Balancing three forces
Run Applied Forces Directions of the Applied
Forces
⃗
A ⃗
B ⃗
E (Equi)
A B E

1 mA mB mE = ____ g

|⃗A| = N |⃗B| = N |⃗E| = N

2 |⃗B| = N ____ g

|⃗A|=¿N |⃗E| = N

3 ____ g

|⃗A|= N |⃗B| = N |⃗E| = N

A B Rx Ry |⃗R| R vector ref R

Ax = Bx =
1
Ay = By =

Ax = Bx =
2
Ay = By =

Ax = Bx =
3
Ay = By =
Compare the magnitudes of the equilibrant forces with the resultant forces in each
|R−E|
run. % Error= ×100 %
R

Percentage errors

Run Calculations of Percentage error Result

Calculate |Ѳ E−Ѳ R| for all the three runs and check whether the answers are equal to 1800.

Questions
1. Have you satisfied the relation, −⃗E =⃗Rin your experiment? Justify your
answer with the obtained values from your experiment.

2. What are the mathematical expressions for the x and y components of the
vector forces A, B and R?

3. If x and y components of a resultant force are -0.212N and -0.121N

respectively, calculate the resultant angle.
 4. The value of x and y components of a resultant force are 0.32N and -0.13N
respectively. In which quadrant will be the resultant?

5. Calculate the magnitude and direction of the resultant.

6. Setup the force table with a forces A that has a magnitude of 2.2 N at an
angle of 20° and B that has a magnitude of 4.4N at an angle of 180°

a. What are the masses you need to attach to the strings to get the forces, A = 2.2 N
and B =4.4N?
Masses: For A, mA =__________ kg
 For B, mB = __________ kg

b. Calculate x and y components of the two forces.

Ax : ________________ N
Ay : ________________ N

Bx : ________________ N
By : ________________ N

c. Find the resultant, (R) of forces A and B

d. Calculate the direction of the resultant force.

7. Calculate the magnitude & direction of the resultant [R] of two forces, A =10N
and B= 18N. The directions of A and B are given as A = 25⸰ and B = 160⸰
respectively.
Discussion:

Conclusion: