The purpose of this experiment is to determine whether the distance from the fulcrum affects the amount of force required to bend a ruler.
The materials needed for this experiment include a ruler, a fulcrum (such as a pencil or pen), and a variety of weights (such as books or coins).
To set up the experiment, place the ruler on top of the fulcrum, making sure it is balanced. Then, place the weights at different points along the ruler and record the amount of force required to bend the ruler at each point.
The independent variable in this experiment is the distance from the fulcrum, while the dependent variable is the amount of force required to bend the ruler. Other variables to consider include the type and length of the ruler, as well as the weight and placement of the weights on the ruler.
Potential sources of error in this experiment include variations in the ruler's strength and flexibility, inconsistency in the weights used, and human error in recording the force measurements. It's important to repeat the experiment multiple times and take an average of the results to minimize these errors.