Acceleration

Question 1

6 steps

What is the method for investigating the acceleration of an object?

Answer 1

1. Attach object e.g. toy car to piece of string looped around bench pulley with other end of string attached to a mass (100g).
2. Mark lines at equal intervals (every 10 cm) with chalk on bench
3. Hold object at starting point and release once ready
4. Record time taken for car to pass each distance marker using stopwatch (easier with multiple people) or lightgates (set up logging software prior)
5. Repeat experiment several times to calculate mean.
6. Repeat experiment removing mass each time (20g)

Question 2

What are our findings for this experiment?

Answer 2

Acceleration is proportional to force applied (weight on string)

Question 3

How can this practical be modified?

Answer 3

Increase mass attached to object instead to see how mas sof object affects acceleration produced by constant force.

Acceleration is inversely proportional to the mass.