Lab Report Format Expectations
Utilize college level grammar and formaṄng when answering text based
questions. Report all equations in a proper mathematical format, with the correct
signs and symbols. Submissions with incomplete or improperly formatted
responses may be rejected.
Pre-Lab Questions
• State the inverse square law in your own words.
The inverse square law is used to describe the distance between two objects based on
the force of gravity between them and their fixed positions.
• State the equation used to find the average velocity of an object traveling in uniform
circular motion.
v = 2πr/T
• Consider an object in orbit around the earth, such as a man made spacecraft or the
moon. Are these objects accelerating?
Yes because the further away the moon moves from the earth the more
acceleration it has otherwise gravitational pull will affect the acceleration of the
moon if it moves closer to the Earth.
EXPERIMENT 1: BALANCING CENTRIPETAL FORCE
Introduction Questions
• Suppose an object rotates 15 times every 2 seconds. State the equation for the
period of an object in circular motion in variable form, then calculate the period of
rotation, ensuring you include the correct units. You must show your work for
credit.
Step 1: T=1/f Step 2: T=15rotations/2sec Step 3: T=7.5rotations per second
• In this lab, you will be rotating a mass on one side of a string that is balanced by a
second mass on the other end of the string (Figure 5). If you apply Newton's Second Law
of Motion to mass 1, m1, and mass 2, m2, you can solve for the period of mass 1, which
is
, √ π 2r
/Below, derive this equation by using Newton’s Second Law. You must show all pertinent
algebra and mathematical steps for credit. Hint: assume m1= 4m2. How is the centripetal
force on m1 related to the force of gravity on m2?
F=ma, ac=rv^2, Fc=m1/rv^2, Fg=m2g, M1=4m2, Fc=Fg, 4m2/v^2*r=m2g, 4/v^2*r=g,
P=3.14^2r/g
Data and Observations
Input the time it took to conduct 15 revolutions and the corresponding period into the table
below. Then use the equation in Question 2 of the experiment introduction to calculate the
expected value of the period of rotation. In the final column, calculate a percent error between
these two values.
Table 1. Rotational Data
mass.
Utilize college level grammar and formaṄng when answering text based
questions. Report all equations in a proper mathematical format, with the correct
signs and symbols. Submissions with incomplete or improperly formatted
responses may be rejected.
Pre-Lab Questions
• State the inverse square law in your own words.
The inverse square law is used to describe the distance between two objects based on
the force of gravity between them and their fixed positions.
• State the equation used to find the average velocity of an object traveling in uniform
circular motion.
v = 2πr/T
• Consider an object in orbit around the earth, such as a man made spacecraft or the
moon. Are these objects accelerating?
Yes because the further away the moon moves from the earth the more
acceleration it has otherwise gravitational pull will affect the acceleration of the
moon if it moves closer to the Earth.
EXPERIMENT 1: BALANCING CENTRIPETAL FORCE
Introduction Questions
• Suppose an object rotates 15 times every 2 seconds. State the equation for the
period of an object in circular motion in variable form, then calculate the period of
rotation, ensuring you include the correct units. You must show your work for
credit.
Step 1: T=1/f Step 2: T=15rotations/2sec Step 3: T=7.5rotations per second
• In this lab, you will be rotating a mass on one side of a string that is balanced by a
second mass on the other end of the string (Figure 5). If you apply Newton's Second Law
of Motion to mass 1, m1, and mass 2, m2, you can solve for the period of mass 1, which
is
, √ π 2r
/Below, derive this equation by using Newton’s Second Law. You must show all pertinent
algebra and mathematical steps for credit. Hint: assume m1= 4m2. How is the centripetal
force on m1 related to the force of gravity on m2?
F=ma, ac=rv^2, Fc=m1/rv^2, Fg=m2g, M1=4m2, Fc=Fg, 4m2/v^2*r=m2g, 4/v^2*r=g,
P=3.14^2r/g
Data and Observations
Input the time it took to conduct 15 revolutions and the corresponding period into the table
below. Then use the equation in Question 2 of the experiment introduction to calculate the
expected value of the period of rotation. In the final column, calculate a percent error between
these two values.
Table 1. Rotational Data
mass.
