I suppose that you varied one or two of those parameters and perhaps measured another.amanda.ka said: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!
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 said: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?
Why did you leave ##\ I/R^2 \ ?## out of your slope?amanda.ka said: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 said:Why did you leave ##\ I/R^2 \ ?## out of your slope?
Leaving ##\ I\ ## out of the expression for slope would make it very hard (impossible) to then use the slope to determine ##\ I\ ## .amanda.ka said: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.
ok so my slope would be: m1+m2+I/R^2?SammyS said:Leaving ##\ I\ ## out of the expression for slope would make it very hard (impossible) to then use the slope to determine ##\ I\ ## .
I'm assuming that when you varied m1 - m2 , you kept the sum, m1 + m2 constant. Is that right?amanda.ka said: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 said: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, but was m1 +m2 maintained at the same value for all of the trials?amanda.ka said:Yes, (m1-m2)g was varied and I obtained the slope by plotting a graph of (m1-m2)g vs. a (acceleration).
yesSammyS said:Yes, but was m1 +m2 maintained at the same value for all of the trials?
SammyS said:Solve :
slope = m1+m2+I/R2 for I.
ok thanks for your help!SammyS said:OK. then do the following:
You're welcome.amanda.ka said:ok thanks for your help!
Likely it's Atwood's machine.andrevdh said:Tell us a bit about the apparatus.
yes its an atwood machine (pulley) :) and my results make a lot more sense now, thanks again!SammyS said:Likely it's Atwood's machine.