AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY–BANGLADESH (AIUB)

FACULTY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

LAB REPORT ON

Verification of Newton's Second Law of Motion by Atwood Machine

Supervised By

ISRAT KABIR

Submitted By

Name ID Contribution

1. Syeda Farhin Rodela 23-52670-2

2. Md. Rijon Sikder 23-52671-2

3. Tahora Akter Suchi 23-52672-2

4. Redwan Ahmed 23-52673-2

5. Abdullah AL Kafe 23-52674-2

Date of Submission: 18/06/2023

The purpose of this lab is to test Newton's 2" Law of Motion by utilizing an Atwood machine
apparatus. In an Atwood's machine apparatus two sets of unequal masses are suspended from
a string on either side of a pulley. The larger mass, m,. provides a net force, F(M-m), thereby
causing both masses to accelerate according to Newton's 2 Law of Motion, F(M+m)a.
Combining these 2 equations, the neceleration can be calculated by the equation, a-[(M-m)
(M+m)]g

It is also possible to determine the acceleration of the 2 masses by measuring the time it takes
for the masses to descend a distance y to the floor, using the equation, a-2D₁ For different mass
combination, (M-m) we will get different experimental accelerations, a... If we find a linear
relationship between a,, and (M-m) for the Atwood machine, we can say that Newton's second
law is verified.

Figure 2.1: Arrangement of an Atwood machine. Here M > m

for M: F act =Mg-T=Ma,

for m: F ret =T-mg-ma

Solving these two equations, we get the theoretical acceleration as

𝑔
𝑎𝑡ℎ = (𝑀 − 𝑚)
(𝑀 + 𝑚)

As acceleration due to gravity g is constant in a particular place and taking total mass (M+m)
constant for the Atwood machine, according to Newton's second law we get

𝑎𝑡ℎ 𝛼(𝑀 − 𝑚)

According to fig. 2.1 the mass M falls a distance D in time t from rest. Applying the knowledge
of equations of motion (D = ut + 1/2a𝑡 2 ) we can calculate the experimental acceleration by

2𝐷
𝑎𝑒𝑥 =
𝑡2

For different mass combination, (M-m) we will get different experimental accelerations, ax. If
we find a linear relationship between B cx and (M-m) for the Atwood machine, we can say that
Newton's second law is verified.
Apparatus:

Pulley, two hangers, different masses, string, stand and clamp, meter scale and stop watch.

Procedure:

 At first, we attach the pully to the top of the ring stand

 We tie two masses of different weight to opposite ends of the string and run the string
over the top of the pulley.

 Now we have to hold the lighter mass on the floor attached to one end of a string

 The heavier one should attach to the other end of the string is up in the air at a height D
from the floor.

 We measure D with a meter scale.

 Now we released the lighter mass and calculate the time of falling

 After that we did the same procedure for 7 different mass differences, (M-m) each time
we ensure that the total mass (Mm) is always constant. For each run, we obtain the
value of the acceleration in (m/s) experimentally as well as theoretically. We use Excel
to plot acceleration (a, and a,,) versus mass difference (M-m) graph
 Experimental Data:

Table 2.1: Acceleration for different mass combination

Mean 2D (M – m)
Time ath = g (M – m)
M m Height Time aexp = (M + m)
t t2
D t
(gm) (gm) (cm) (s) (s) ( cm.s-2) (cm.s-2) (gm)

0.63
500 200 65 0.60 0.58 541.44 420 300
0.52
0.85
0.70
475 225 64 0.75 533.11 350 250
0.72

0.90
450 250 63 0.92 0.93 264.68 280 200
0.97
0.98
425 275 63 1.07 1.01 236.44 210 150
0.99
1.22

400 300 63 1.12 1.17 196.83 140 100

375 325 62 1.81 1.78 69.05 70 50

350 350 0 0 0 0
Graph:
Result:
From the ‘acceleration vs mass difference’ graph, the relationship between experimental
acceleration and mass difference is linear for the Atwood machine same as the theory says.
Thus, we can say that Newton’s second law is verified

Discussion:
We did this lab work virtually and we researched on web very deeply. We also read the lab
manual before starting the lab and everyone had a clear idea about the objective, time frame
and outcomes of the lab.