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Acceleration Force Lab Experiment Sheet

The lab experiment investigates the relationship between acceleration and force by applying constant force to a cart with the same mass and varying the mass while applying the same force. It utilizes Newton's second law of motion to analyze the results, confirming that acceleration is directly proportional to force and inversely proportional to mass. The experiment includes detailed procedures, observations, and precautions to ensure accurate results.

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12 views3 pages

Acceleration Force Lab Experiment Sheet

The lab experiment investigates the relationship between acceleration and force by applying constant force to a cart with the same mass and varying the mass while applying the same force. It utilizes Newton's second law of motion to analyze the results, confirming that acceleration is directly proportional to force and inversely proportional to mass. The experiment includes detailed procedures, observations, and precautions to ensure accurate results.

Uploaded by

pradeev
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lab Experiment Sheet: Investigating the Relationship Between

Acceleration and Force

Objective:
1. To investigate how acceleration varies when a constant force is applied to a cart with the
same mass.
2. To study how acceleration changes when different masses are used while applying the
same force.
3. To plot a force vs. acceleration graph and analyze the relationship between force and
acceleration.

Apparatus Required:
• Cart with low-friction wheels
• Spring scale (calibrated in Newtons)
• Masses (0.5 kg, 1 kg, 1.5 kg, 2 kg)
• Smooth surface (e.g., well-polished table)
• Stopwatch
• Measuring tape
• Graph paper

Theory:
Newton’s second law of motion states that the acceleration (a) of an object is directly
proportional to the net force (F) applied and inversely proportional to its mass (m):
a=F/m
Thus, when the mass is constant, acceleration should increase linearly with an increase in
force. Conversely, for a constant force, acceleration decreases as mass increases.

Procedure:

Part A: Applying Constant Force for the Same Mass


1. Place the cart on a smooth, horizontal surface.
2. Attach the spring scale to the cart.
3. Pull the cart using the spring scale, ensuring that a constant force is applied (record the
force from the scale).
4. Measure a fixed distance (e.g., 1 meter) and use a stopwatch to record the time taken by
the cart to travel this distance.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for increasing forces (e.g., 2 N, 4 N, 6 N).
6. Record the time taken and calculate the acceleration using the formula:
a = (2 × distance) / (time)^2
Part B: Applying Constant Force for Different Masses
1. Attach different masses (e.g., 0.5 kg, 1 kg, 1.5 kg, 2 kg) to the cart.
2. Apply a constant force using the spring scale (ensure the same force is applied for all
trials).
3. Measure the time taken for the cart to travel a fixed distance (1 meter).
4. Record the time and calculate the acceleration for each mass using the same formula as
above.

Observations:

Table 1: Constant Mass with Varying Force


Trial No. Applied Mass of Cart Distance (m) Time (s) Acceleration
Force (N) (kg) (m/s²)

Table 2: Constant Force with Varying Mass


Trial No. Applied Mass of Cart Distance (m) Time (s) Acceleration
Force (N) (kg) (m/s²)

Graphical Representation:
1. Plot a graph of Force (N) vs. Acceleration (m/s²) for Part A.
2. Plot a graph of Mass (kg) vs. Acceleration (m/s²) for Part B.

Result:
1. The graph for Part A should show a linear relationship, confirming that acceleration is
directly proportional to force when mass is constant.
2. The graph for Part B should show an inverse relationship, confirming that acceleration is
inversely proportional to mass when force is constant.

Conclusion:
This experiment verifies Newton’s second law of motion, showing that:
1. When mass is constant, acceleration increases linearly with an increase in force.
2. When force is constant, acceleration decreases as mass increases.

Precautions:
1. Ensure the surface is smooth to minimize friction.
2. Pull the cart with a constant force using the spring scale.
3. Record time accurately using a stopwatch.
4. Repeat trials to ensure consistency and accuracy of results.

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