Exploring Mass & Force's Impact on Acceleration

[abjohan]

1. I have to make an experiment which shows how mass and force affect acceleration. I have done an experiment for force(I have changed slope and rolled down a ball). Now I am not quite sure what to do for mass since mass is part of force! Is there a way that u can separate these 2?

p.s: btw how is (mu) in the equation:a=g[sinA-(mu)(cosA)] calculated?


2. F=ma,A=f/m,



3. My theory is that mass isn't even effecting acceleration in this experiment. a=(m.a)/m, to find acceleration, we are only dividing f by mass. Interestingly, f=ma, so mass does nothing to acceleration, it is multiplied and then divided, it kinda cancels out. Anyhow, there is a high chance that I am wrong, maybe mass is included in this equation "g[sinA-(mu)(cosA)] calculated?" and that's how it affects acceleration?!? A good analysis of the situation would be really appreciated! Thnx

 

[Stovebolt]

1. I have to make an experiment which shows how mass and force affect acceleration. I have done an experiment for force(I have changed slope and rolled down a ball). Now I am not quite sure what to do for mass since mass is part of force! Is there a way that u can separate these 2?

p.s: btw how is (mu) in the equation:a=g[sinA-(mu)(cosA)] calculated?


2. F=ma,A=f/m,



3. My theory is that mass isn't even effecting acceleration in this experiment. a=(m.a)/m, to find acceleration, we are only dividing f by mass. Interestingly, f=ma, so mass does nothing to acceleration, it is multiplied and then divided, it kinda cancels out. Anyhow, there is a high chance that I am wrong, maybe mass is included in this equation "g[sinA-(mu)(cosA)] calculated?" and that's how it affects acceleration?!? A good analysis of the situation would be really appreciated! Thnx

Mass definitely affects acceleration. As you stated, A = f/m. What happens to the acceleration if you keep force the same, but increase the mass?

(mu) is used as the coefficient of friction. For two given surfaces, the coefficient of friction is generally found by experimentation. Typically, one surface of an object of known mass is placed on top of the other surface (both surfaces are horizontal). The object is then pulled (horizontally applied force) to determine how much force is needed to (1) Find the minimum force to start the object in motion (static friction) and (2) keep the object in motion at a constant velocity (kinetic friction).

When setting up your experiment, you should pay careful attention to dependent and independent variables. The way you described it, you seem to be testing with a constant acceleration (gravity), which might not be what you want. Think of ways that you can apply different forces to an object of a fixed mass and measure the acceleration. Then think of ways that you can apply a fixed force to objects of different masses and measure the acceleration.

 

[baba89]

I would like to commend you for conducting an experiment to explore the relationship between mass, force, and acceleration. Your experiment for force by changing the slope and rolling down a ball is a great way to understand the impact of force on acceleration.

To investigate the effect of mass on acceleration, you can make some modifications to your experiment. For example, you can use different objects with varying masses and roll them down the same slope to see how their masses affect their acceleration. You can also keep the mass constant and vary the force by changing the slope or using different objects with different shapes or sizes to roll down the slope.

In regards to your question about separating mass and force, it is important to note that mass and force are two distinct physical quantities. While mass is a measure of an object's inertia and is a fundamental property of matter, force is a measure of the interaction between two objects and can cause a change in an object's motion. In the equation F=ma, mass and force are separate variables and can be manipulated independently. So, it is possible to separate mass and force in your experiment and investigate their individual effects on acceleration.

Regarding your question about calculating (mu) in the equation a=g[sinA-(mu)(cosA)], (mu) represents the coefficient of friction, which is a measure of the resistance to motion between two surfaces in contact. It can be calculated by dividing the force of friction by the normal force between the two surfaces. In your experiment, the value of (mu) can be determined by measuring the force of friction and the normal force between the ball and the slope.

Lastly, your theory that mass does not affect acceleration in this experiment is not entirely correct. While it is true that the mass cancels out when calculating acceleration using the equation a=F/m, it is important to remember that the force (F) is dependent on both mass and acceleration. So, while the mass may not directly affect the acceleration, it does play a role in determining the force required to produce a certain acceleration.

In conclusion, it is important to consider all factors, including mass and force, when studying acceleration. By conducting further experiments and analyzing the data, you can gain a better understanding of the relationship between these variables and their impact on acceleration. I wish you all the best in your experiment and encourage you to continue exploring the fascinating world of physics.