SUAD – Foundation Year in Sciences / Introduction to the Labs

Lab #1
Force table and vectors
Lab report due on Blackboard, after 7 days – midnight

Content of the report:

You will answer the questions and submit two diagrams on graph paper. Type your answers and
submit one single pdf file, where the two diagrams are presented at a relevant position – refer to
Blackboard course for your group (Group 1 or Group 2).

Purpose of the experiment:

In this experiment, you will learn how to handle vectors, collecting their parameters and adding
them, graphically and by calculation. You will also start your Lab Notebook.
You must perform the experiment in a very careful way, and make sure you collect precise data.
You will also draw a very precise diagram and use it to analyze your results. Finally, you will
identify possible sources of errors and suggest improvements in the experimental procedure.
Description of the Force table:
A Force Table is used to explore the addition
of vectors using the concept of forces at
equilibrium. The vectors are forces supplied
by the weight of masses that hang over
pulleys. For instance, in the case of three
masses, two masses hanging over pulleys
placed at given angles are balanced by a third
mass over a pulley at another angle.

Experimental procedure:
You will perform the experiment with 2 and
then 3 masses: place mass hangers carrying a
chosen amount of mass on the small rings.
You must place the strings in such a way that
the main ring is balanced: it is at rest at the
middle of the force table and does not touch
the peg.

➢ With 2 masses hanging:

-
- Balance the system.
- Compare the values of the 2 masses. Calculate the force they exert on the main ring.
- What is the direction of the 2 strings?

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 SUAD – Foundation Year in Sciences / Introduction to the Labs

- On your Lab Notebook, draw the vectors representing the forces exerted on the main
ring. You will specify the scale you are using.

➢ With 3 masses hanging:

1. Using 3 equal masses:
- Balance the system.
- Collect the values of the masses and the position of each pulley.
- Draw a sketch of the system on your Lab notebook, representing the 3 vectors and
giving all the relevant information.

2. With 3 masses of different values hanging:

- Balance the system.
- Collect the values of the masses and the position of each pulley.
- Draw a sketch of the system on your Lab notebook, representing the 3 vectors and
giving all the relevant information.

Analysis and interpretation – 3 masses / for each of the two situations:

1. Determining the components:
- Choose 2 orthogonal reference axes and represent them clearly on a graph paper, along
with the origin of the angles.
- Represent the 3 vectors. You will mention clearly the scale you are using to represent
the magnitude of the forces.
- Graphically, you will collect the components of the 3 vectors on your diagram and
display them in a table.
- Calculate the components of the 3 vectors onto these axes and display them in the same
table.

2. Analysis:
- Graphically: add the three vectors on your diagrams. What is the vector resulting from
this addition?
- By calculation: add the components along each axis. What do you obtain?
- Are your results in agreement with your expectations (you will recall your
expectations)?
3. Interpretation and identification of the sources of errors: how do you explain,
looking at the force table, the possible difference you obtain between your
expectations and your results? How could you improve the experiment?

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 SUAD – Foundation Year in Sciences / Introduction to the Labs

Starting your Lab notebook:

This is the first experiment you perform this year, for which you will start to use your Lab
notebook. You must bring your Lab notebook to each session.

Why is it Important to Keep a Good Laboratory Notebook?

Keeping a complete and accurate record of experimental methods and data is a vital part of science
and engineering. Your laboratory notebook is a permanent record of what you did and what you
observed in the laboratory. Learning to keep a good notebook now will establish good habits that
will serve you throughout your career. Your notebook should be like a diary, recording what you
do, and why you did it. You should feel free to record your mistakes and difficulties performing
the experiment - you will frequently learn more from these failures, and your attempts to correct
them, than from an experiment that works perfectly the first time. It is extremely important that
your notebook accurately record everything you did. A good test of your work is the following
question: could someone else, with an equivalent technical background to your own, use your
notebook to repeat your work, and obtain the same results? For that matter, could you come back
six months later, read your notes, and make sense of them? If you can answer yes to these two
questions, you are keeping a good notebook.

Rules for Maintaining your Laboratory Notebook and Marking scheme:

Marking scheme Rubrics

15% Pen Always use pen and write neatly and clearly
15% Well organized
Table of contents Leave several pages blank at the beginning for a Table
of Contents and update it when you start each new
experiment or topic.
Title & objectives, and easiness to Record the TITLE and OBJECTIVES of each
understand what you were doing and experiment (or notes or calculations) at the top of the
when you were doing it. first page of the notebook dedicated to this topic.
10% Date Date every page on the top outside corner
10% Right side Start each new topic (experiment, notes, calculation,
etc.) on a right-side (odd numbered) page
10% Mistakes If you make a mistake, don’t obliterate it! You may
need to read your mistake later – perhaps you were right
the first time! Use a single cross out and EXPLAIN why
it was an error.
20% Printouts Data typed into the computer must be printed and taped
into your lab notebook. Plots of data made in lab should
also be printed and taped in your lab notebook.
20% Informative: all required data and When you record an observation in your notebook,
information and descriptive include an explanation of what you were doing at the
comments on your observations time. If appropriate, you may just record the step
number in the instructions followed by your
observation.

Reference for the Lab Notebook: http://web.mit.edu/meugoffice/communication/labnotebooks.pdf