Lab 05 - Centripetal force

203-NYA-05 Fall 2023

Name: Le Nguyen Tan Alex

Name: He Xiaorui

Name: Dany Hourani

Objective
2
mv
Experimentally verify the relation F c =
r
Material and setup

 Base , shaft, and sliding arm as support  Spring

 Bob with a string  Hanging loads
 Stopwatch  Excel (recommended)

Theory

In the case of uniform circular motion, one can quickly establish a relation between the tangential
velocity, the period and the centripetal acceleration.

Δ s 2 πr
v= =
Δt T
As a reminder, even though the speed of the bob is constant, its velocity is constantly changing
direction. Hence, the acceleration cannot be null.
 2
v
a c=
r
Procedure

1. Weigh the bob and write down its value with its uncertainty (mbob) in Table 1.
2. Hang the bob from the vertical support, make sure it is properly aligned with the visual
guidance (vertical stick). Measure the distance to the pivot (r) and include this value in Table 1.
3. Attach the spring to the bob and check that it has some reasonable tension. On the other side,
use a string to hang various loads, until the bob is again vertically aligned with the reference
point. 1
4. Weigh the load you used and write this value in Table 1.
5. Remove the load. At this point, the bob should now be pulled in by the spring.
6. Use the shaft to make the system rotate. Adjust the angular velocity until the bob is, once again,
aligned with the reference point.
7. Use a stopwatch to find the period. For best results, let the bob complete 20 revolutions. Do this
twice, taking different roles in your team.

Data

Mass of the bob mbob 0.445 ± 0.0005 Kg

Mass of the load mload 0.550 ± 0.0005 Kg

Radius r 0.149 ± 0.0005 m

Total time t1 13.84 ± 0.005 s
Number of revolutions N1 20 ± 0.5 revs
Total time t2 13.67 ± 0.005 s
Number of revolutions N2 20 ± 0.5 revs
Table 1

Forces:

Draw a free body diagram for the bob in following cases:

a. With the load and the spring

F spring T (F load)
 b. Without the load and the loads, rotating

Dynamic analysis:

1. Calculate the mean period and its uncertainty

Step 1: Calculate the period for each trial

Trial 1:

T₁ = t₁ / N₁ = 13.84 s / 20 = 0.692 s

Relative uncertainty (dominated by N₁):

ΔT₁/T₁ ≈ 0.5 / 20 = 0.025

ΔT₁ = 0.692 s × 0.025 = 0.0173 s

Trial 2:

T₂ = t₂ / N₂ = 13.67 s / 20 = 0.6835 s

Relative uncertainty:

ΔT₂/T₂ ≈ 0.5 / 20 = 0.025

ΔT₂ = 0.6835 s × 0.025 = 0.0171 s

Step 2: Calculate the mean period

 Time avg = (T₁ + T₂) / 2

= (0.692 s + 0.6835 s) / 2

= 0.68775 s ≈ 0.688 s

Step 3: the uncertainty for the mean period

ΔTime avg = sqrt((ΔT₁)² + (ΔT₂)²) / 2

= sqrt((0.0173 s)² + (0.0171 s)²) / 2

= sqrt(0.000299 + 0.000292) / 2

= sqrt(0.000591) / 2

≈ 0.0243 s / 2

≈ 0.012 s

Final Result:

Time avg = 0.688 ± 0.012 s

2. Calculate the centripetal force and its uncertainty

Centripetal force:

Fc = (mv^2)/r

Fc = (0.445*1.36^2)/0.149

Fc = 5.52N

Centripetal force uncertainty:

ΔFc/Fc = sqrt((Δm/m)^2+(2*Δv/v)^2+((Δr/r)^2)

ΔFc/5.52 = sqrt((0.0005/0.445)^2+(2*0.008/1.36)^2+((0.0005/0.149)^2)

ΔFc = 0.012N

3. Calculate the force by the spring and its uncertainty

Spring Force

F = ma

0.55kg * 9.8m/s^2 = 5.39N

Uncertainty Force
Δm = 0.0005 kg

Δa = 0.1 m/s^2

ΔF/F = sqrt((Δm/m)^2 + (Δa/a)^2)

ΔF/5.39N = sqrt((0.0005/0.55)^2 + (0.1/9.8)^2)

ΔF = 0.055N

Discussion:

1. Are the values found for the centripetal force and the spring force compatible with each
other? Quantify and justify your answer.

Yes, they are compatible, because it keeps the bob in place straight. Both forces have a force of around
5.4N. Those forces are very similar which keep in place when spinning around because of the rotational
motion. Since spring is attached to the weight it is also spinning with bob around and so it will have
around the same force as the centripetal force. The spring force is the weight that was pulling it to make
the bob straight and the centripetal force is the force that goes towards the center and since we were
trying to make it straight. The force is very similar.

2. . Identify the main and secondary sources of uncertainty

The main sources of uncertainty in this experiment come from timing errors with the stopwatch, which
affect the time (T), velocity (v), and centripetal force (Fc). Counting the number of revolutions may also
have small mistakes, slightly changing the time calculation. Small errors in measuring the radius (r) and
the mass of the bob and load can affect force calculations. Other minor/secondary uncertainties include
slight changes in how the spring stretches, air resistance and friction slowing the motion, misalignment
of the bob affecting measurements, and small changes in rotation speed impacting velocity.

3. Calculate the linear speed of the bob, with its uncertainty. Then, find the centripetal
acceleration and compare it with the gravitational acceleration.
Linear speed:

V = (2pi * 0.149) / 0.688s

V = 1.36 m/s

Velocity uncertainty:

C = 2pi * r

C = 2pi * 0.149

C = 0.934 = d

ΔC = C * Δr/r

ΔC = 0.934 * Δ0.0005/0.149

ΔC = 0.003 = Δd
ΔV/V = sqrt((Δd/d)^2 + (Δt/t)^2)

ΔV/1.36 = sqrt((0.003/0.934)^2 + (0.005/0.688)^2)

ΔV = 0.008N

Centripetal acceleration:

2
v
a c=
r
2
1.36
a c=
0.149
2
a c =12.41 m/ s

Centripetal acceleration: 12.41m/s^2

Gravitational acceleration: 9.8m/s^2