Comparing Acceleration and Force Graphs: How Do They Relate?

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Graphs Of Acceleration And Force

Hi!

We did this lab...on Newton's Second Law. we are trying to prove the formula F=ma...

Now i drew this graph of acceleration vs time and force vs time...they look similar..how can i interpret them?

someone help! MY lab is due tomorrow!

 

[Dale]

They are supposed to look similar, they are only different by a scaling factor (mass). In fact, if instead of plotting each against time, if you were to plot force as the y-axis and acceleration as the x-axis then you should get a straight line with slope equal to m.

 

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ok..thas true...but now the problem is that...i have plotted force on y-axis and acceleration on x-axis...and i calculated their slope and found an equation...the slope is suppose to be the mass of the object rite?
but I am getting smthing slightly different.
Actual mass is 1.04kg and the mass that i calculated was 1.13kg. Why are they different?

 

[pixel01]

ok..thas true...but now the problem is that...i have plotted force on y-axis and acceleration on x-axis...and i calculated their slope and found an equation...the slope is suppose to be the mass of the object rite?
but I am getting smthing slightly different.
Actual mass is 1.04kg and the mass that i calculated was 1.13kg. Why are they different?

Your measurements need to be more precise. I think acceleration measurement is not easy.

 

[fact file]

oh thanks...

what am i suppose to do here?

Compare the graphs of force vs. time and acceleration vs. time for a particular trial.

What do i do here...i am confused :S

 

[Dale]

Actual mass is 1.04kg and the mass that i calculated was 1.13kg. Why are they different?

<10% experimental error is probably quite good for the kind of experimental setup you would usually have at a typical school lab.

 

[fact file]

oh thanks...dale and pixel

 

[fact file]

HOw do u compare acceleration vs. time and force vs. time graphs?

PLz help pplease