Lab 3.

2 Centripetal Force Lab

Title: The Effect of Tension on Acceleration

Hypothesis: You will need to spin the object faster as the tension is increased. F=ma is the equation
used because the mass is staying the same but as the force increases the acceleration increases as well.
F and A are directly proportional.
Materials:
Stopper
String
14 washers
Stopwatch
Paper clip
plastic tube

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

6.
7.

Procedure:
Make sure your washers are all the same size. If there is any variation, trade for 14 identical washers.
Measure the mass of the rubber stopper, paper clip, and all 14 washers.
Measure the length of string from the stopper to the tube.
Place 4 washers on the paper clip.
Support the paper clip with one hand and hold the tubing in the other hand. Whirl the rubber stopper in a
horizontal orbit above your head, by revolving the tubing. Let go of the paper clip. Spin with the
minimum velocity needed to keep the paperclip held up beside the tube.
Measure the time interval required for twenty complete revolutions. (Remember to start counting at zero,
not at one.)
Repeat steps 4-6 for 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 washers.

Data:
Mass of stopper: 12.2 grams +/- .05
Mass of paper clip: 1 gram +/- .05
Radius of your string (from stopper to tube): 82 centimeters +/- .05
Mass of all 14 washers: 91 grams +/- .05
Average mass of a washer: 6.5 grams +/- .05

Time for 20
revolutions

Calculated Period
(T) (time for one
revolution)
(Time/20)

1/T2

Force exerted by
washers on string
(Convert the total
hanging mass to
kg, then multiply
by 9.8 m/s/s) (F)

4 washers + paper
clip
Mass: 27 grams
+/- .05

17.28 seconds +/.005

.864 seconds

1.340 seconds^2

.264 N

6 washers + paper
clip
Mass: 40 grams
+/- .05

16. 82 seconds +/.005

.841 seconds

1.414 seconds^2

.392 N

8 washers + paper
clip
Mass: 53 grams
+/- .05

15.37 seconds +/.005

.769 seconds

1.691 seconds^2

.519 N

10 washers
+ paper clip
Mass: 66 grams
+/- .05

13.85 seconds
+/- .005

.693 seconds

2.082 seconds^2

.646 N

12 washers
+ paper clip
Mass: 79 grams
+/- .05

12.88 seconds
+/- .005

.644 seconds

2.411 seconds^2

.774N

14 washers
+ paper clip
Mass: 92 grams
+/- .05

11.59 seconds
+/- .005

.580 seconds

2.973 seconds^2

.901 N

Analysis:

1. The slope of your graph is equal to Ftension/(1/T2). This can also be written in terms of M (mass of
stopper) and R (radius of string from tube to stopper).
Ftension/(1/T2) = M*4 2R
(The derivation of this relationship is shown here:
Ftension = Fc.
Ftension = Mv2/R, where v = 2 R/T
Ftension = (M(2 R)2)/(R*T2)
Ftension = M*4 2R/T2
Ftension/(1/T2) = M*4 2R
Ftension/(1/T2) = 0.012kg*4 2.82m
Ftension/(1/T2) = .388
6.

( 0.388 - 0.365 )
% Error = ------------------------------- X 100
( 0.388)
% Error = 5.93

Washers

Stopper

Conclusions

Our hypothesis was supported by the lab. From the data table we can conclude that as the
hanging increased in mass the time period was reduced showing the predicted inverse
relationship. The graph on the other hand demonstrated a direct relationship between the force
(N) and 1/T^2. When one value increased the other also, proportionately, increased- likewise
this occurred when one value decreased. We can give this information with a fairly strong
amount of confidence due to the fact that our percentage of error was 5.7%. Some of this error
was due to out measuring tools. For example or meter stick had previously crack and taped
back together and also the person running our stop watch had to have some reaction time. other
errors were random in incidences where we had to round numbers. To reduce these errors we
could have used more accurate measuring tools, used a machine that require less reaction time
to measure time, and increase our number of significant figures.