Putting an equation into y = mx+b form

[amanda.ka]

Homework Statement

I am doing an experiment where I have to test the validity of the equation: (m1-m2)g=(m1+m2+I/R^2)a. The lab instructions say to linearize this equation. What would be the "m" and "b" values?

Homework Equations

y=mx+b
(m1-m2)g=(m1+m2+I/R^2)a

The Attempt at a Solution

I reasoned that m1+m2 = slope and that the y-intercept will be zero, could someone please tell me if I did this correctly? Thank you!

 

[SammyS]

Homework Statement

I am doing an experiment where I have to test the validity of the equation: (m1-m2)g=(m1+m2+I/R^2)a. The lab instructions say to linearize this equation. What would be the "m" and "b" values?

Homework Equations

y=mx+b
(m1-m2)g=(m1+m2+I/R^2)a

The Attempt at a Solution

I reasoned that m1+m2 = slope and that the y-intercept will be zero, could someone please tell me if I did this correctly? Thank you!

I suppose that you varied one or two of those parameters and perhaps measured another.

What was varied and what was measured?

Which of parameters are you trying to determine?

 

[amanda.ka]

I suppose that you varied one or two of those parameters and perhaps measured another.

What was varied and what was measured?

Which of parameters are you trying to determine?

the weight difference (m1-m2)g was taken as the y variable and the acceleration (a) was taken as the x variable so I took these as varied and the slope and y-intercept to be the constant variables.

 

[SammyS]

the weight difference (m1-m2)g was taken as the y variable and the acceleration (a) was taken as the x variable so I took these as varied and the slope and y-intercept to be the constant variables.

Why did you leave $\ I/R^2 \ ?$ out of your slope?

 

[amanda.ka]

Why did you leave $\ I/R^2 \ ?$ out of your slope?

Later in my lab manual it says to find the moment of inertia from slope so that is why I did not put "I" into my slope value.

 

[SammyS]

Later in my lab manual it says to find the moment of inertia from slope so that is why I did not put "I" into my slope value.

Leaving $\ I\$ out of the expression for slope would make it very hard (impossible) to then use the slope to determine $\ I\$ .

 

[amanda.ka]

Leaving $\ I\$ out of the expression for slope would make it very hard (impossible) to then use the slope to determine $\ I\$ .

ok so my slope would be: m1+m2+I/R^2?
but then from a graphing software based on my data I got an actual value for the slope so how would I solve for I using that slope? I am just confused with how it all relates :(

 

[SammyS]

ok so my slope would be: m1+m2+I/R^2?
but then from a graphing software based on my data I got an actual value for the slope so how would I solve for I using that slope? I am just confused with how it all relates :(

I'm assuming that when you varied m₁ - m₂ , you kept the sum, m₁ + m₂ constant. Is that right?

If so, then solve : slope = m₁+m₂+I/R² for I.

 

[amanda.ka]

I'm assuming that when you varied m₁ - m₂ , you kept the sum, m₁ + m₂ constant. Is that right?

If so, then solve : slope = m₁+m₂+I/R² for I.

Yes, (m1-m2)g was varied and I obtained the slope by plotting a graph of (m1-m2)g vs. a (acceleration).

 

[SammyS]

Yes, (m1-m2)g was varied and I obtained the slope by plotting a graph of (m1-m2)g vs. a (acceleration).

Yes, but was m₁ +m₂ maintained at the same value for all of the trials?

 

[amanda.ka]

Yes, but was m₁ +m₂ maintained at the same value for all of the trials?

yes

 

[SammyS]

OK. then do the following:

Solve :

slope = m₁+m₂+I/R² for I.

 

[amanda.ka]

OK. then do the following:

ok thanks for your help!

 

[andrevdh]

Tell us a bit about the apparatus.

 

[SammyS]

ok thanks for your help!

You're welcome.

Does your final result seem to make sense ?

 

[SammyS]

Tell us a bit about the apparatus.

Likely it's Atwood's machine.

 

[amanda.ka]

Likely it's Atwood's machine.

yes its an atwood machine (pulley) :) and my results make a lot more sense now, thanks again!