The velocity of the cart was determined using the flowing equation.įor different masses m, times 1 and 2 were tabulated and v1 and v2 calculated from respective trials. The distance L was determined by measuring the distance it takes for the moving cart to turn on and off the timer. The timer was used to record time 1 (t 1) and time 2 (t 2), which are times that the cart took to pass through photogates 1 and 2, respectively. The photogate and timer were used in measuring acceleration. The masses of the mass holder and cart were measured and tabulated. The experiment was commenced by placing all masses the hanging mass holder then gradually decreased by removing them, then placing them on the cart of the air track to ensure that there is a constant mass. The air track was set to move on a frictionless flat surface and connected to a hanging mass by a string via a pulley. The experiment increased force (F) by increasing m and decreasing M while making the total mass constant as M + m, as in equation 3. Since a string connects masses M and m, and they accelerate together in response to the same force, they all contribute to the relationship between force and mass. Mass m generates the force (F) when pulled by gravitational acceleration (g) to accelerate mass M along the surface. Figure 1 above illustrates the set up of the experiment to demonstrate Newton’s second law of motion. Equipment/MaterialsĪccording to Newton’s second law of motion, an object with a fixed mass (m) will have a uniform acceleration (a) when it experiences a net force (F).Īs the experiment fixed the mass and varied the force, it demonstrated that force and acceleration have a positive correlation. The gas and rocket move in opposite directions.The objective of the experiment is to demonstrate Newton’s second law of motion that the acceleration of an object with fixed mass is directly proportional to the net force applied to it. When a spacecraft fires a thruster rocket, the exhaust gas pushes against the thruster and the thruster pushes against the exhaust gas. Exerting a force results in an equal force in the opposite direction (like the recoil a person feels when firing a gun). To stop or slow down an object, a force must be applied in the direction opposite to that of the object’s motion. Newton’s Third Law States that Every Action Has an Equal and Opposite Reaction To reach a certain speed you can apply a small force for a long time or a large force for a short time. So, the more you want a spacecraft to accelerate, the more force you must apply. The more mass an object has, the more force you must apply to make it accelerate-to change its speed or direction or both. Newton’s Second Law Describes How Force and Acceleration Are Related But it does need an additional force-thrust-to change its speed or direction or both. Once set in motion, it will keep moving forever without propulsion, since there is no friction in space to slow it down. In the same way, a spacecraft far from any source of gravity would need no thrust to keep it moving at a constant speed in a given direction. Once you set it in motion, the object continues to move at a constant speed until it strikes another object. Newton’s First Law Describes How an Object Moves When No Force Is Acting on ItĪ stationary object remains at rest until you apply a force to it.
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