Solve F=ma Concept: Urgent Help Needed! Where Did I Go Wrong?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around a student's confusion regarding the application of Newton's Second Law (F=ma) in a lab experiment involving varying hanging masses and their corresponding accelerations. The student initially calculated a slope and y-intercept from a graph of hanging weight versus acceleration but received partial credit, leading to questions about the units and relationships involved. After adjusting the graph, they sought clarification on how to predict acceleration for a new mass using the derived equation. The conversation emphasizes the need to correctly interpret the relationship between force and acceleration and to solve for acceleration algebraically based on the experiment's findings. Overall, the student is looking for guidance on resolving their calculations and understanding the underlying physics concepts.
riseofphoenix
Messages
294
Reaction score
2
Urgent help needed with F=ma concept! Where did I go wrong?? Help please

Use the exact values you enter to make later calculations.

A group of students performed the same "Newton's Second Law" experiment that you did in class. For this lab, assume g = 9.81 m/s2. They obtained the following results:

m1(kg) t1(s) v1(m/s) t2(s) v2(m/s)
0.050 1.2000 0.2500 1.7862 0.4123
0.100 1.2300 0.3240 1.6364 0.6502
0.150 1.1500 0.3820 1.4809 0.8067
0.200 1.1100 0.4240 1.3988 0.9511

where m1 is the value of the hanging mass (including the mass of the hanger), v1 is the average velocity and t1 is the time at which v1 is the instantaneous velocity for the first photogate, and v2 is the average velocity and t2 is the time at which v2 is the instantaneous velocity for the second photogate.

(a) Use Excel to construct a spreadsheet to do the following. (You will not submit this spreadsheet. However, the results will be needed later in this problem.)

(i) Enter the above data.

(ii) Compute the acceleration, a, for each trial.

(iii) Create a graph of the hanging weight m1g vs. the acceleration. Hint

This is what I did
Excel1_zpsa2682c14.png


(iv) Use the trendline option to draw the best fit line for the above data and determine the slope and y-intercept from it.

And then I did,
Excel2_zps47b72cf9.png


(v) report your results below.

slope = __1.045__ kg
markSprite.png
Partial credit: Your answer received partial credit.
y-intercept = _0.2345_ N
markSprite.png
Partial credit: Your answer received partial credit.

Whatttt? What am I doing wrong??

(b) Use the information you obtained from your graph to determine the total mass of the system M = m1 + m2.
M = _1.045 kg_ Partial credit: Your answer received partial credit.

(c) Using the information you obtained in parts (a) and (b), predict what the value of the acceleration would be if the value of the hanging mass were increased to m1 = 0.40 kg.

a = ______ m/s2
 
Physics news on Phys.org


You graphed force on the x-axis and acceleration on the y-axis. How can the y-intercept be in Newtons, then?
 


Muphrid said:
You graphed force on the x-axis and acceleration on the y-axis. How can the y-intercept be in Newtons, then?

Ohhh ok...

So I switched it and got
slope - 0.956 kg
y-intercept - 0.2248 N


b. 0.956 kg
c. a = ?

How would I solve for c?
 


The equation of the line gives you the relationship between acceleration and force for this system. If you know one, you should be able to algebraically solve for the other.
 


Muphrid said:
The equation of the line gives you the relationship between acceleration and force for this system. If you know one, you should be able to algebraically solve for the other.

y = 0.946a + 0.2248

ma = 0.946a + 0.2248
(0.40)a = 0.946a + 0.2248
?
 


Muphrid said:
The equation of the line gives you the relationship between acceleration and force for this system. If you know one, you should be able to algebraically solve for the other.

I need help :(
 
I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'
Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
Back
Top