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Neel Agarwal
9-30-14
AP Physics C
Quackenbush 2nd

Newtons Lab Conclusions

The purpose of this lab was to apply the formulas and laws that

govern Newtons classical mechanics. With the use of a pulley, some

weights, two photo-gates and a wooden car on wheels, my group and I
were able to create experimental results that help to prove Newtons
classical mechanics.

The summarized requirements of the lab are as followed:

1. Gather the materials needed and label the weights
2. Calculate the weights and cars mass
3. First table
a. Attach one weight to the string at a time and drop it until it
hits the floor
b. Leave the car as it is
c. Copy down the resulting times
d. Use the different times to calculate the cars velocity at
different points as well as its acceleration

4. Second table
a. Only attach one weight to the end of the string
b. Let the weight drag the car down and each time attach
another weight to the car itself
c. Calculate its velocities and acceleration
5. Use the results to determine Net force, and tension
6. Graph these results on two tables (one with constant net
force/one with constant mass)

The results that were gathered from this lab pointed towards some
interesting results. First off, the earths gravitational field (which causes
a constant acceleration) did act on the weight being dropped, which
accelerated at precisely 9.8 m/s^2, and because each weight had mass,
the entire system experienced a net force, therefore a constant
acceleration in whichever direction the string was pulling in.
The data (when plotted or looked at numerically) yielded trends that
were:
Alike to a negative linear function for the Acceleration vs. Net
Force

Alike to an inverse square law trend for the Acceleration vs.

Total Mass

In this experiment there are two very good examples of
Newtons 3rd Law of motion. Newtons 3rd Law states that for
every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. One of the
best examples of this law is the pair of vertical forces that leave
the wooden cart in equilibrium which are the Natural Force and
the Gravitational Force.

The second example is the pair of horizontal forces that the

car experiences, which are Kinetic Friction and the Tension in the
string. The only reason as to why the car experiences acceleration
is because the force of friction can only be so high. If the force of
tension surpasses the force it was start to accelerate in the
direction of the tension.

When the mass is held constant and the Net Force is

increasing, the tension slowly decreases. This is because the

tension slowly starts to require less and less force in order to pull
it down which is consistent with the Force of Gravity that is

increasing with each weight, as well as the unchanging mass of the

car.

Inversely, when the Net Force is held constant and the mass

is increasing, the tension in the string is shown to increase at a

high rate. This is consistent with the cars necessity of a higher
force to pull it down due to friction, and because the Net Force is
unchanging (the mass of the weight at the bottom is unchanging
too), the car experiences a slower acceleration.