CS_Ch5_Predictions

2/24/05

8:08 PM

Page 259

Activity 2 Newtons Law of Universal Gravitation

3. Place the photocell in one corner of the light square.

Attach it to the galvanometer as directed by your teacher.
The photocell and galvanometer measure light intensity.
The more light that strikes the cell, the greater the current
reading on the galvanometer.
a) Copy the table below in your log. Record the distance to
the board, current in galvanometer, and length of a side
of the square.
Distance to
board (m)

Distance
squared

Current in
galvanometers (A)

Side of
Area of
square (cm) square (cm 2)

4. Move the projector to a position 1 m from the board. Adjust

the projector so that the original square of light sits in one
corner of the new square of light.
a) Enter the data into the table in your log.
5. Repeat Step 4 with the projector
at distances of 1.5 m, 2 m, 2.5 m,
and 3 m.
a) Enter the data into the table in
your log.

Second square of light

First square of light

6. Graph the current in the

galvanometer versus distance.
Label this graph Graph 1.

Photocell

a) Is Graph 1 a straight line?

b) What does a straight line on
the graph tell you?
Galvanometer

259
Coordinated Science for the 21st Century