Centripetal Force Physics Lab Question

[dystorsion]

I need help with this lab I'm doing involving swinging a mass in a circle (I'm sure you guys have heard of it). I have to plot a graph of Radius vs. FT^2 and then compare the value of the slope to its theoretical value.

A couple questions:
Which goes on the y axis? Radius or FT^2?
How do I ascertain the theoretical value of the slope to compare to?

Thanks,
Dystorsion

 

[Dick]

What is FT^2??

 

[dystorsion]

I have no clue. I'm just multiplying F with T^2.

I've done some research to help myself, though I still don't know what's going on. Here's the link I found, scroll down to the bottom for the tidbit on FT^2.

http://www.mysci.net/pages/physics1/Labs/centripetalforce.htm

 

[Dick]

Ok then. What are F and T^2. Sorry but I can't access links from where I am.

 

[Gear300]

I see...the link already gives you what you need. You should already know that Net Force = ma and Net Centripetal Force = mv^2/r. v = 2(pi)r/T, in which T is time. Therefore, all that was done was that using these formulas and plugging in values, the Net Force = ma = mv^2/r = 4(pi)^2Rm/T^2. I don't think its FT^2, I think you're confusing it for just F.
---To answer the question about the axes, F goes on the y-axis and Radius goes on the x-axis; consider it as for you increase or decrease the radius, you'll retrieve another value for F.
---To explain about the situation with FT^2 being mistaken for F, is that
FT^2 = 4(pi)^2Rm, which I can't really identify (its not acceleration or the velocity). Using just F is the centripetal force, and you would graph whether F increases as the radius increases (the slope is I suppose deltaF/deltaT). Then again, I'm not exactly completely sure that this is the answer, its just I can not identify FT^2.
---If its any help...if it really is FT^2, then the slope should identify FT^2/R, in which it is equal to 4(pi)^2m; if you could find what that means, then you would be able to find out what the slope refers to.