Experiment-3:Newton's 2nd Law

(Predicting Accelerations)
Abstract:
The experiments performed involved the determination of acceleration, the
coefficient of friction at an inclined angle and then we practically viewed
the 2nd Law Of Motion by predicting the accelerations.
The first determination was made by allowing the car to decellerate over
the path provided under the combined action of rolling friction and slope.
By this experiment, we were able to establish whether the acceleration
was constant or not.
The second determination was made by launching the PASCAR at a certain
inclined angle, . By this experiment we determined the coefficient of rolling
friction, r.
Finally, the last experiment was performed by using a small pully and we
practically demonstrated Newton's 2nd Law of Motion.

Theory:
This experiment practically showed Newton's 2nd Law. As the law
states, the car was initially kept at rest and then allowed to accelerate
over a distance d. With the help of a stopwatch, we determined the time
taken by the car to cover that distance. The experimental value was
calculated by the formula,

= 0.5t2

as the initial velocity is zero.

=
t2

Now, since we kept the table horizontal, we can use the following formula
to calculate acceleration

= m = m

Where

and =

Here, M is the combined mass of the car and the attached pulley with
weights.

Procedure:
We initially started by taking precautions that a bumper should be
installed. Then, we went ahead and applied some mass on the bed of
the car. Again, by precautions, we made sure that there was no
tendency of the car to drift on the surface. Then, by using the string
provided, we attached the pulley to the car. Then. we added some
weight to the loop and reset the car to its initial position. Next, we
released the car and noted the distance along with the time taken to
cover that distance. Exluding the pulley, we compiled the mass of the
system.

DATA ANALYSIS:
Distance travelled=d= 70 cm
Total mass of the system=MTOTAL= 834 g

TABLE:
Tri
al
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

m(gra
ms)
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80

Average
time
(sec.)
4.79
2.92
2.13
1.80
1.55
1.40
1.20
1.15

aexp
aTh
(cm/s (cm/s
2
2
)
)
6.1
11.8
16.4
23.5
30.9
35.3
43.2
47.0
58.3
58.8
71.4
70.5
97.2
82.3
105.9
94.0

% Diff.

48.3
30.2
12.5
8
0.9
1.3
18
12.7

Questions
1. Can you think of any systematic errors that would effect
your results? Explain how each would skew your results.
Ans.Yes.If the string is extendible it will vary the tension in the
string.The clamp with the magnet attached will also affect the
acceleration as it will exert an external force on the motion of the cart.

CONCLUSION
In these experiments,the laws of motion and the equations of motion
were analyzed.The theoretical and experimental values were found by
carrying out various experiments.The %age error between theoretical
and experimental values was also calculated. The errors involved in the
first experiments were also due to the fact that the table was not
exactly a level surface hence gravity played a role in the motion of the

cart. Other errors were minimized by taking multiple readings and then
averaging out a value.