Lab #7a

Dynamics of
Uniform Circular Motion

Name___________________

Lab Partner______________

Date Experiment Performed__________

Date Submitted__________
Uniform Circular Motion SN1 Lab # 7 1
WARNING: This lab uses a moving mass that can be projected and potentially cause serious
injury. Always follow the safety rules set out by your teacher. Also:
• Before the experiment, check that the elastic tubing is secure and in good condition.
Replace it if it is damaged.
• During the experiment, ensure the mass is secured so it cannot become detached during
motion.

Introduction
The objective of this experiment is to verify Newton’s second law applied to uniform
circular motion using the circular motion apparatus. (It’s called the Welch apparatus, because that
was the manufacturer.)
The elastic in the apparatus can be adjusted: with pre-determined masses, we can know the
force exerted by the elastic when it is stretched over the radial indicator.
The apparatus allows the user to rotate the mass at a constant radius while measuring
angular position as a function of time with the computer. The user can then compute angular
acceleration.
We will complete several trials by using the elastic at different tensions, and rotating the
(constant mass) at different speeds over the radial indicator.

Hypothesis (for you to complete):

If Newton’s Second law applies to the rotating mass, the tighter the elastic, the
_________ one would need to rotate the mass in order to keep the mass rotating at the same
radius.
Graphing ________ versus _______ for several trials should be a _____________ with
slope _____________ and y-intercept ____________.

Materials and Methods

Figure 1: Experimental setup when adjusting the tightness of the elastic tubing.
Uniform Circular Motion SN1 Lab # 7 2

1. Measure and record the mass of the rotating mass, M.

2. Secure the apparatus to the table by means of the large bolt provided. Be sure that the table
will not interfere with the hanging mass, mh, on the string after it passes over the pulley.

3. Pick the value of r to be 0.10-0.20 m by placing the radial indicator at this value. (note the
zero of the ruler is at the axis of rotation). This value will remain constant for the duration
of your experiment.

4. Unscrew the nut maintaining the horizontal bar fixed at the axis of rotation. Adjust the
horizontal bar in such a way that the rotating mass, M, hangs freely right over the top of
the radial indicator. Position the counter balance mass to get the best possible equilibrium
of the horizontal bar. Now tighten the screw to secure the horizontal bar.

5. Using S-hooks, attach the elastic to one to side of the rotating mass, M, and on the other
side a string connected to the initial required hanging mass, mh, of 300g.

6. Adjust the elastic’s tension by moving it up or down until the mass, M, is once again over
the radial indicator, and its supporting string is vertical. (Make sure the elastic tubing and
the string at the sides of M, are horizontal).
7. Record the value of mh, the mass suspended over the edge of the table, and calculate the
magnitude of the force, Felastic = mhg.

8. Disconnect the string holding the mass mh from the mass M.

9. On Capstone, click Hardware setup. Ensure that your interface appears (if it didn’t check
that it is on). Click input 1 and choose Photogate with pulley.

Rotate the Welch apparatus and make sure that the LED goes on and off three times for
one revolution.

Click on Properties (the gear icon at the bottom right corner), enter the Spoke Angle as
120°. Drag a graph display from the right menu onto the page. Choose angular position
(rad) for the y-axis and time (s) for the x-axis.

Rotate the rod until M is passing directly over the radial indicator on each rotation, and
click Record in the controls ribbon. Once you have taken the data for a run of about 20
revolutions click the Stop button. The graph will be automatically displayed.

Determine the slope for the “angular position vs. time graph” by using the curve fit
feature (of type “linear”). Record this in your data table as the angular speed (ω). Note
that the computer gives you R^2, an measure of how good the linear fit, and see if you
can find the uncertainty.

Hints:
- to judge when the mass rotates over the radial indicator, the student rotating
the mass should sight tangentially and may find it useful to place a white
card behind the indicator.
- be sure that the elastic tubing is horizontal.
Uniform Circular Motion SN1 Lab # 7 3
- to keep the speed constant it may be necessary to give an extra push at the
bottom of the shaft, while it is rotating.

10. Repeat steps #5 to #9, decreasing the hanging mass mh by 50 g each time, and record
each angular velocity, ω, in your data table.

11. Print out the sheet showing all the angular position time graphs and their equations.

Analysis
1. For each of the six trials you have performed for the rotating mass, M, calculate the
magnitude of the acceleration, rω2.
Estimate the uncertainty of the radius of rotation. The uncertainty of the
𝜎 𝜎
acceleration is 𝜎𝑎 = 𝑎 ∙ ( r𝑟 + 2 ω𝜔 ).
Estimate the uncertainty in the force: note that though we know the hanging mass
quite precisely, the main uncertainty comes from the adjustement of the elastic:
it’s positioning above the radial indicator that is the source of uncertainty.

2. Plot a graph of the force exerted by the elastic as a function of the centripetal
acceleration. Show the equation of the line.

3. Since Felastic = Mac, the slope of the graph is ______________. Calculate an appropriate
percent difference to evaluate your result.

Discussion
Address the objective: di you find that Newton’s Second law applies to an object
undergoing rotational motion?
State the quantitative evidence that you have gathered and describe the aspect of the
graph to support the hypothesis.
(that means give the numbers and state the shape of the graph that prove your point).
If you did not find evidence to support the hypotheses, explain how (ex: numbers don’t
match or shape of graph is not right)
Reflect on the experiment: did we make reasonable approximations (see the introduction
paragraph)? Could we do we a slightly different experiment with the same equipment to re-test
our hypothesis?