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Lab #2

This lab experiment aimed to investigate how the force required to maintain equilibrium of a suspended mass depends on the angle between the line of action of the force and the horizontal. Apparatus used included retort stands, clamps, string, a spring balance, and a protractor. Force and angle readings were taken with the suspended mass and recorded. The results showed that force increased with increasing angle, indicating a direct proportionality between force and the sine of the angle. Measurement errors arose from inconsistencies reading the protractor and keeping the spirit level bubble centered.

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Riaz Jokan
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884 views

Lab #2

This lab experiment aimed to investigate how the force required to maintain equilibrium of a suspended mass depends on the angle between the line of action of the force and the horizontal. Apparatus used included retort stands, clamps, string, a spring balance, and a protractor. Force and angle readings were taken with the suspended mass and recorded. The results showed that force increased with increasing angle, indicating a direct proportionality between force and the sine of the angle. Measurement errors arose from inconsistencies reading the protractor and keeping the spirit level bubble centered.

Uploaded by

Riaz Jokan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Physics Lab #2

TITLE: Lab # 2

AIM: To investigate how the force required to maintain equilibrium of a suspended mass
depends on the angle Ɵ between the line of action of the force, F and the horizontal.

APPARATUS: 2 retort stands, 2 clamps and 2 bosses, 2 G-clamps, string with two loops, spring
balance, load(m), protractor, spirit level.

DIAGRAM:
Physics Lab #2

INSTRUCTIONS/METHOD:
1. Both retort stands were clamped to the lab bench.
2. The spring balance was clamped to one of the retort stands at an angle of
approximately 45°.
3. The string was hung at A and C and the mass was suspended from the middle loop,
B.
4. The set-up was adjusted so that AB was horizontal and the newton-metre(spring
balance) was clamped along the action of force, F.
5. The angle, Ɵ, was measured using a protractor, and the read off value F, on the spring
balance.
6. The procedure was repeated until six sets of readings were obtained for Ɵ and F

TREATMENT OF RESULTS:
𝑚𝑔
1. F = sin 𝜃 + k,
1
F = (mg)( ) + k,
sin 𝜃
y = mx + c

2. y = F
m = mg
1
x = sin 𝜃
c=k
1
3. Graph of Force,F/N vs sin 𝜃
4. Table of Results

Force, F/N Angle, Ɵ Sin Ɵ 1


sin 𝜃
2.6 123 0.839 1.19
2.8 130 0.766 1.31
3.1 140 0.643 1.56
3.6 145 0.574 1.74
4.1 152 0.469 2.13
5.1 157 0.391 2.56
Physics Lab #2

7. 123±0.5 °
Δ𝜃 0.5
Percentage Uncertainty = = 123 x 100
θ

= 0.41%
157±0.5 °
Δ𝜃 0.5
Percentage Uncertainty = = 157 x 100
θ

= 0.32%

DISCUSSION:
As seen from the table of results, as the force increase the angle also increases. This shows that
the force is directly proportional to the angle between the line of action of the force.
There no difficulties in obtaining readings from the spring balance, however, errors arose when
readings were to be made on the protractor. Dependant upon the angle at which the protractor
was viewed from, the readings varied and hence and inconsistency occurred in the Ɵ readings.
The most accurate reading taken was the second pair in which the value of the force was 2.8N
and the value of the angle was 130°. These readings were the most accurate because they fell
exactly on one of the increments of the instrument.

ERRORS AND PRECAUTIONS:


The bubble on the spirit level was not at the exact centre for some readings and hence added to
the inaccuracy of the readings. To minimize this, time was spent on adjusting the clamp until the
bubble was almost centred.
An error which cannot be totally eliminated is the parallax error when reading the protractor.
The instrument used to measure the angle limited the accuracy of the experiment.
Assumptions that were made include that the weights were not faulty (ie. They were exact 50g)
and that the spring balance started from 0.
A stand on which the protractor can sit would improve the readings for Ɵ since the instrument
would not have to be held by someone. The angles manipulated should increase/decrease in a
constant value to obtain a better pair of readings for plotting the graph.

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