Peter, Richard, Michael and co.

TROLLEY PRAC
Aim
To examine the relationship between the net force acting on a system, the mass
of the system and its acceleration when a mass hanging off a table is dropped
while attached to a trolley
Hypothesis
The heavier the weight attached to the end of the string, the greater the
acceleration of the trolley
Apparatus
-

Low friction trolley

Timing and recording device phone
Slotted masses
String
Metre ruler
Pulley
Table

Method
1. Place the phone on the trolley with the app active to measure the
acceleration
2. Place 50g of the slotted masses on the end of the string over the trolley as
shown in the diagram:

3. Use the phone to record the acceleration of the trolley as the load of the
slotted masses falls.
4. Repeat the procedure by added 50g more the slotted mass. Continue to
repeat until the slotted masses weigh up to 300g.

Peter, Richard, Michael and co.

Results
Discussion
Independent Variable: The mass attached to the end of the string
Dependent Variable: The acceleration of the trolley
Controlled Variables: Trolley, length of string, distance of travel, pulley, same
environment
Our measurements were reliable because we used appropriate equipment to
record our results. A phone app with an accelerometer with suitable units was
placed on top of the trolley. This allowed it to continuously record the
acceleration of the trolley. The pulley used in the experiment also allowed for the
trolley to be moved across the table at a constant rate, hence the results were
not biased.
The experiment was repeated several times and the results were recorded and
checked for consistency. Since they were consistent, our experiment was reliable.
The experiment could have been improved if the distance travelled was
increased. This would have allowed the accelerometer enough time to gather
results and for our phone to record these results. Increasing the distance also
allows for the trolley to accelerate over a longer time therefore allowing the
trolley to reach its sufficient velocity.
The phone application which graphed the acceleration of the trolley was
calibrated every time before the trolley was released to ensure that the
measurement was not skewed. To minimise the risk of biased results, the trolley,
length of string, distance that the trolley travelled, pulley and environment were
all controlled and only one variable was being changed at a time, which was the
mass attached to the end of the string. The distance that the trolley travelled
was measured out several times to make sure that the trolley travelled the
intended distance. These steps were taken to ensure that the experiment was
valid.
Conclusion
The larger the mass of the weight attached to the string, the faster the trolley
accelerated. This can be explained using newtons second law F(net) = ma.
The higher the weight of the mass on the end of the string means that the mass
has a larger force towards the ground as the acceleration of gravity stays the
same. The string then pulls on the trolley through tension with that force. As the
trolleys mass is kept constant its acceleration must be higher to satisfy Newtons
Second Law.