PHY 111L Activity 4

Newton’s Laws of Motion

Name: _________________________________ ID #:_____________________________

Section: ________________________________ Date: ____________________________

Lab Partners: ________________________________________________________ TA initials: _______

Objectives
1. Introduce Newton’s 3 Laws of motion
2. Understand how to draw and interpret a free body diagram
3. Use Newton’s laws to find the acceleration of an object along level and inclined planes (lab report)
4. Use DataStudio to measure the acceleration for those cases and compare to calculated values

Materials & Resources

1. Computer with DataStudio and 2 photo gates
2. Dynamics track with cart, protractor, mass set, pulley, string, and a bubble-level

Introduction
Newton’s laws consist of the “law of inertia”, the “law of motion”, and the “law of action and reaction.” The first law
(“inertia”) says that an object’s velocity will not change unless that object experiences acceleration by means of an external
force. Think about a large box sitting on the floor or a moving car with no brakes, or air friction. The second law (“motion”)
goes on to say that any change in the object’s velocity is inversely proportional to its mass and directly proportional to the
force applied to it, and in the same direction as that force. Think about the force needed to get the box moving or to stop
the car. The third law states that for every action on an object, there is an equal and opposite reaction, usually from within
that object. Think about the force that the box puts on your hands as you attempt to move it or about the forces involved
when two objects collide. The first two laws are governed by the vector equation  F = ma and deal with objects that
experience external forces, with a = 0 in the case of the first law. The third law includes internal forces and the role they
play in interactions. The SI unit of force is a Newton, N; the dimensions of force are [M][L][T -2], with SI units kg*m/s2.
For this lab, Atwood’s machine is used to verify Newton’s laws. The general
definition of Atwood’s machine is a uniformly accelerated motion of two
objects connected by a string suspended over a pulley as shown to the right.
According to the “law of inertia,” object 1 (cart with mass
M) will remain still unless acted on by a force. But since
there is a gravitational force applied to the cart via the
pulley and the tension T in the string, it moves according to
the “law of motion” as  F = ma, where F, a are vectors.
As shown in the two figures for object 1 to the right, the sum of the forces in the x-direction
(direction of motion) is  Fx = +T = Max; that for the forces in the y-direction is  Fy = +n - Mg = May.
So, T = Max; but since the cart does not move up or down, ay = 0, which implies n = Mg for object 1.
For object 2 (weight with mass m), the net force is the gravitational force mg, with the y-direction taken
as the direction of gravity’s pull on the weight, minus the tension in the string; then  Fy = +mg - T = may.
Notice here that ax = 0 for object 2 since the weight only moves in the y-direction.
Now, since the “law of action and reaction” applies to where the string meets the cart as well as to where
the string meets the weight, we can know that the tension in the string is the same for both objects; we can
also say that ax for the cart equals ay for the weight, which we simply will call a. Thus, we can now solve
for T in each case, and then set the results equal to find that a = (mg)/(M+m) for this simple case.
Also notice that when the weight hits the floor and causes the string to stop pulling on the cart, it should
continue to move with a constant velocity; this behavior is also explained by the “law of inertia” above.
1
1. Acceleration along a Level Plane
Procedure:
1) Use a balance to accurately measure the mass of your cart M and of your hanging mass m,
and then record your results below using correct significant figures, units, and uncertainty.

M ± ∆M = ± ( ) m ± ∆m = ± ( )
2) Setup the experiment as shown in the diagram above; use the bubble-level to ensure that the track is level by
adjusting the track feet until both bubbles are centered. Verify that both photo gates hit the same location on the
cart flag by ensuring both gates are set to the same height. The free body diagram for this setup is shown below.
This gives the following force equations for each object as:
Σ FMx = +T = MaMx Σ FMy = n – Mg = 0
for the forces on the cart along the x and y directions, then
Σ Fmx = mamx = 0 Σ Fmy = mg – T = mamy
for the forces on the hanging mass along the x and y directions.
Since the tension in the string is the same at both ends, then
aMx = amy ≡ aTL and T = MaMx = mg – mamy gives the theoretical acceleration as aTL = (mg)/(M + m).
Calculate values for aTL and ∆aTL, where g = 9.807 m/s2, and then properly record your results below.

aTL ± ∆aTL = ± ( ) d ± ∆d = ± ( )
3) Use a meter stick to measure the distance between the photo gates d and record your results above using correct
significant figures, units, and uncertainty. Be sure that d is less than the initial height h of the hanging mass from the
floor. This will ensure that the cart is uniformly accelerated throughout the entire distance d.
4) Open DataStudio, click on “Create Experiment,” and select photo gates for digital channels 1 and 2. Then open a
“Table” and select “Time Between Any Gates.” Recall that when measuring the acceleration due to gravity in
part 3 of the “Kinematics” lab, the initial velocity vi needed to equal zero in order to use the equation for
acceleration aEL = 2d/t2. That is also true here, so be careful to have the cart’s flag as close to the photo gate as
possible when you release it for each data run; this will ensure the validity of using aEL = 2d/t2 for the cart here.
5) Ensuring that the initial velocity is zero for each run, use
DataStudio to measure the time it takes for the cart to Travel time, t (photo gates) Acceleration, aEL = (2d) ÷ t
2

travel the distance d along the level surface, then record

your measurements in the table to the right.
6) Calculate the acceleration for each run using the values
measured for t in the table and d from above and record
your results in the table to the right.
Note: Remember to square t when calculating aEL here.
7) Click on “Experiment,” select “New Empty Data Table,”
and enter your calculated values for aEL into the “X”
column of the new data table.
8) Select “mean” and “standard deviation” from the “Σ”
drop-down at the top of the table, verify that values for
mean and standard deviation appear on the table, and
record these values with units in the space below. Do not
print this table yet, we will use the “Y” column in part 2.

aEL ± ∆aEL = ± ( )
Question: List all 4 sources of friction in this experiment below. Which of your values for a above is higher, aTL or aEL?
Does this make sense in terms of the frictional forces present in this experiment? Briefly justify your answer below.

2
2. Acceleration along an Inclined Plane (Lab Report)
Procedure:
a
1) Setup the experiment as shown to the right. Use the rods mounted on the
table to support the track so that it is raised and hangs off the end of the table.
Use a weight that is small enough to allow the cart to roll down the track.
2) Use the balance to measure m and record your results using correct
significant figures, units, and uncertainty to the right. m ± ∆m = ± ( )
Note that M ± ∆M and d ± ∆d should still be the same as in part 1 above; verify that they are. Be sure that you have
enough string so that the cart can travel through both photo gates before the hanging mass touches the pulley.
3) The free body diagram for this setup is shown to the right.
-
This gives the following force equations for each object as: T
+
n
ΣFMs = T – Mgsin(θ) = MaMs; ΣFMp = n – Mgcos(θ) = 0
for forces on the cart along the slope (s) and perpendicular (p) to it, a T
ΣFmx = mamx = 0; ΣFmy = mg – T = mamy Mgcos(θ)
for forces on the hanging mass in the x and y directions. Mgsin(θ)
Since the tension in the string is the same at both ends,
the following is true T = mg – mamy = Mgsin(θ)+ MaMs and aMs = amy ≡ aTI. mg
– g(Msin(θ) – m)
As a result, the theoretical acceleration down the incline is given by aTI = /(M + m),
m
where the minus sign shows that the cart moves down the incline and as before g = 9.807 /s2.
Calculate values for aTI and ∆aTI, then properly record your results below.
Note: use sin(1°) ≈ 0.02 for your uncertainty in sin(θ). aTI ± ∆aTI = ± ( )
4) Use the same DataStudio setup as in part 1 above to measure the time it now takes the cart to travel the distance d
down the incline, and then calculate the values for aEI as before; record your results in the table below.
5) Enter your calculated values for aEI into the “Y” column 2
of the data table from part 1 above. Travel time, t (photo gates) Acceleration, aEI = (2d) ÷ t

6) Record your average and standard deviation values for

aEI in the space below; print the completed table now.

aEI ± ∆aEI = ± ( )
Questions:
1) Which of your values for a above is higher, aTI or aEI?
Does this make sense in terms of the frictional forces
present in this experiment? Justify your answer below.

2) Calculate the difference in your values for aT and aE as well as the sum of ∆aT and ∆aE, and properly record below.

aT – aE = ( ) ∆aT + ∆aE = ( )
3) Can your results for the case of the inclined plane be considered valid? Why or why not?