Newton's Second Law Lab: Tips for Completing Calculations

Net force on the Total Mass = Fghanging

Total Mass = C + masses on top of cart + hanging masses
C= mass of cart = 0.5 kg <-Will be given to you
Acceleration of the cart = acceleration of the hanging mass
= acceleration of the system since they are tied together

Table 1: TITLE i.e Acceleration and Fnet for …

Fnet *calculate
Total using ticker Fnet/
Mass = Fghanging tapes Total
Ticker Total Mass Hanging Mass = (mhanging)(g) Acceleration Mass in
Tape # (kg) (kg) (kg) (N) (m/s2) kg (N)
1 C+1.0+ 0.1+0.1+0.1 1.8 0.1 0.18 0.1
2 C+1.0+ 0.1+0.1+0.1 1.8 0.2 0.36 0.2
3 C+1.0+ 0.1+0.1+0.1 1.8 0.3 0.54 0.3
4 C+1.0+0.1+0.1 1.7 0.3 0.51 0.3
5 C+1.0+0.1 1.6 0.3 0.48 0.3

*Ticker timer makes 60 dots per second = 30 dots per 0.5 second
*Make a mark every 30 spaces on your ticker tape and measure the in metres
displacement in each interval between the marks

Table 2: TITLE Ticker Tape 1

* x axis on
Graph 1 *y axis on
Displacement Time Half Time in Graph 1
in Interval Interval the Interval Average
Interval # (m) (s) (s) Velocity = ∆d/∆t
1 0.0-0.5 0.25
2 measure with ruler 0.5-1.0 0.75
3 1.0-1.5 1.25
4 1.5-2.0 1.75
5 2.0-2.5 2.25
… … …

OVER-->
*Plot a v-t graph for ticker tape 1
*The slope of the graph = Acceleration . Record your acceleration in Table 1.
*Repeat these calculations for each ticker tape.
You may divide this work up among your lab group members but
each person must analyze at least one ticker tape.

*Put your table(s) and graph(s) into your group's folder and hand in to be
photocopied for the rest of the group.
They will use the values of acceleration that you have calculated.

The rest of the lab should be completed on your own.

Once you have Table 1 complete, use it to plot 3 graphs.
1. net force vs. acceleration
2. acceleration vs. total mass
3. acceleration vs. 1/total mass

USE THE RUBRIC- make sure all parts are complete!!

 Mass in Cart (g)  Hanging Mass (g)  Number of Dots  Total Distance (cm)

 200  50 20 7cm

 150  100 20  12.3cm

 100  150 20 7.6 cm 

 200  50 20  8 cm 

 300  50 20   7  cm

 400  50 20 3cm

 Mass in Cart (g)  Hanging Mass (g)  Total Mass  Net Force

200  50 3.4711 4.9
150 100 2.9711 9.8
100 150 2.4711 14.7
200 50 3.4711 4.9
300 50 4.4711 4.9
400 50 5.4711 4.9

 Mass in Cart  Hanging Mass  # of dots  Time

 200  50 20  0.33 s

150 100 20  0.33 s
100 150 20  0.33 s
200 50 20   0.33 s
300 50 20   0.33 s
400 50 20  0.33 s
 Expected Acceleration
0.7083877551
0.3031734694
0.1681020408
0.7083877551
0.9124693878
1.1165510204

 Actual 
 Total Distance
Acceleration
7cm 1.2855831038
 12.3cm 2.258953168
7.6 cm  1.395775941
8 cm  1.469237833
 7  cm 1.2855831038
3cm 0.550964187