CIRCULAR MOTION EXPERIMENT

Time 1 /s time 2 /s time 3 /s avg. time /s avg. /10 (/s) Tension /N Radius /m w(rad/s)
8.3 8.45 8.37 8.37 0.837 1 0.66 7.51
6.31 6.39 6.36 6.35 0.635 2 0.66 9.89
5.58 5.31 5.49 5.46 0.546 3 0.57 11.51
4.75 4.74 4.77 4.75 0.475 4 0.58 13.23
4.5 5.04 4.72 4.75 0.475 5 0.87 13.23
4.62 4.16 4.33 4.37 0.437 6 0.9 14.38
4.75 4.65 4.84 4.75 0.475 7 0.9 13.23
4.57 4.59 3.51 4.22 0.422 8 1 14.89
y = 0.0387x - 0.3889
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0 50 100 150 200 250
T
e
n
s
i
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/

R

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N
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Angular Velocity ^2 / (rad/s)^2
Tension / R (/N)
Tension / R (/N) avg. time /s w(rad/s)
w^2(rad/s)^2 Tension / R (/N) 1.515151515 8.373333 7.506792
56.4001 1.52 3.03030303 6.353333 9.89478
97.8121 3.03 5.263157895 5.46 11.50767
132.4801 5.26 6.896551724 4.753333 13.22776
175.0329 6.9 5.747126437 4.753333 13.22776
175.0329 5.75 6.666666667 4.37 14.378
206.7844 6.67 7.777777778 4.746667 13.22776
175.0329 7.78 8 4.223333 14.88906
221.7121 8
250
Tension / R (/N)
Linear (Tension / R (/N))
Aim
To investigate circular motion and to use the formula for centripetal acceleration to calculate the mass of a rotating objec










Experimental Procedure
Measure the mass of the rotating mass in kilograms to use as a comparison
Measure the time it takes to swing the mass in 10 complete circles at a constant radius
The radius (in meters) of the string
Then the time take for 10 complete circles must be divided by 10 using a stopwatch

Evaluation

The weight of the rotating mass is equal to the gradient of the graph, therefore it equals 0.0387 Kg. The uncertainty is equal to the y
like a realistic mass, the experiment was perhaps not carried out in an entirely efficient way as the actual mass of the rota
regards to the mass as well as a possible further conclusion about the accuracy of the experiment could not be given.
To investigate circular motion and to use the formula for centripetal acceleration to calculate the mass of a rotating object
0.0387 Kg. The uncertainty is equal to the y-intercept and is therefore 0.3889. This seems
like a realistic mass, the experiment was perhaps not carried out in an entirely efficient way as the actual mass of the rotating object was not measured, so the percentage error in
regards to the mass as well as a possible further conclusion about the accuracy of the experiment could not be given.
The procedure was not entirely accurate due to the human error involved in measuirng the time for 10 rotations, though the overall
percentage error was reduced by measuring over a larger range and by taking the mean - there will always be a certain systematic
error due to human reaction time.

One modification that could have been used to reduce this error would be that of a light gate, the path of light would be obs
each time the rotating object moves around 360 or 2 radians. The problem of human error would be removed, possibly leading to a
more reliable set of results. Moreover, there is a problem involved in the rotating of the object - theoretically the swinging o
should be at a constant radius but this is impossible given human error involved in the swinging of it. This could possibly b
using a mechanical arm instead to rotate the object, which could be calibrated to a constant radius.

The Theory


The tension in the string is equal to the Centripetal force, while 2 is the angular velocity. R is equal to the radius which was already
calculated. Therefore the mass can be calculated by m = Fcr/v^2, which is always equal to the gradient.

due to the human error involved in measuirng the time for 10 rotations, though the overall
there will always be a certain systematic
One modification that could have been used to reduce this error would be that of a light gate, the path of light would be obstructed
radians. The problem of human error would be removed, possibly leading to a
theoretically the swinging of the mass
should be at a constant radius but this is impossible given human error involved in the swinging of it. This could possibly be fixed by

is the angular velocity. R is equal to the radius which was already
= Fcr/v^2, which is always equal to the gradient.