Date Course Name Instructor Name Student(s) Name

Vectors and the Force Table

STUDENT OUTCOMES Through this experiment, students will learn: - Vector analysis - Resultant vs equilibrant vectors - Experimental errors - Statistical nalysis scalar is a physical quantity that possesses magnitude only! Examples o" scalar quantities are mass, time density, and temperature! vector is a quantity that possesses both magnitude and direction# examples o" vector quantities are velocity, acceleration and "orce! vector can be represented by an arrow pointing in the direction o" the vector, the length o" the line should be proportional to the magnitude o" the vector! Vectors can be added either graphically or analytically! The sum or RESULTANT o" two or more vectors is a single vector which produces the same e""ect! $or example, i" two or more "orces act at a certain point, their resultant is that "orce which, i" applied at that point, has the same e""ect as the two separate "orces acting together! The EQUILIBRANT is de"ined as the "orce equal and opposite to the resultant! Those two concepts o" resultant and equilibrant vectors are the %eys to this experiment! &lease spend some time practicing your vector addition 'resultant( using the graphical applet at: http:))www*!hawaii!edu)+pseng)labs)applets)Vectors)index!html ,n this applet, the green line has no direction! -ence, the direction o" this line "rom the origin to the blue vector is the resultant vector while the equilibrant is the vector pointing "rom the blue vector bac% to

the origin! Remember that both resultant and equilibrant vectors have the same magnitude but opposite direction! The "orce table is an apparatus that allows the experimental determination o" the resultant o" "orce vectors! The rim o" the circular table is calibrated in degrees! $orces are applied to a ring around a metal peg at the center o" the table by means o" strings! The strings extend over pulleys clamped to the table and are attached to hangers! The direction o" the "orces may be ad.usted by moving the position o" the pulleys! The magnitude o" the "orces are ad.usted by adding or removing masses to the hangers! The "orces used on the "orce table are actually weights, or
W = mg

,n this exercise, we will simply consider the /"orce/ as the mass that is hung on the string, that is, we will not multiply the mass by the acceleration due to gravity! ,n this experiment, two methods "or vector addition will be used: the graphical method 'head to tail method( and the experimental method 'using the "orce table(!

MATERIALS Tablet &0 0omputer 1aptop Excel 3icroso"t &aint &rotractor PROCEDURE 4! Vector addition 4: To "ind the resultant o" two "orces: a *55 g "orce at 67 degrees and a *55 g "orce at 487 degrees! a! &lace one pulley at 67 degrees and the other at 487 degrees! b! 9n each string at runs over these pulleys, place a mass o" *55g 'including hanger - each hanger has a mass o" 75 g(! c! 2ith a third pulley and masses, balance the "orces exerted by the two *55 g masses! The "orces are balanced when the ring is centered around the central metal peg! To balance the "orces, move the third pulley around to "ind the direction o" the $orce Table, pulleys, hangers, masses 2ord Ruler

balancing "orce, and then add masses to the third hanger until the ring is centered! d! The balancing "orce obtained in 'c( is the equilibrant "orce! The resultant has the same magnitude as the equilibrant! To determine the direction o" the resultant, subtract 4:5 degrees "rom the direction o" the equilibrant! *! Vector ddition *: ," one "orce o" 475 g is directed at *5 degrees and another "orce o" *55 g is directed at :5 degrees, what is the resultant vector; a! <se the "orce table to determine the resultant "orce experimentally! $ollow the same procedure as in =4! 8! Vector ddition 8: 2hat is the resultant o" a "orce o" 455 g directed at 5 degree and another "orce o" *55 g at >5 degrees! a! <se the "orce table to "ind the resultant! RESULTS 4! ,nclude your results here! The experiment column re"ers to the equilibrant vectors obtained on the "orce table! The graphical column re"ers to the resultant vectors graphically obtained, and independently ro! the orce table" That is, do ?9T use results "rom your "orce table to obtain the graphical vectors! The idea is to use two di""erent methods and compare them!

VECTORS 200 g at 45o 200 g at 135o 150 g at 20o 200 g at 80o 100 g at 0o 200 g at 90o

EXPERIMENTAL

GRAPHICAL

*! ,nclude your graphs "or each case! #a$e sure to label and include direction%!a&nitude labels and 'alues on your &raphs( or all your dra)n 'ectors! *hen readin& your &raphical !ethod( the reader ou&ht to be able to see clearly+ the t)o

'ectors &i'en( the resultant 'ector, Finally( include the scale that you chose, 8! The relationship between the resultant and the equilibrant is given at the beginning o" this experiment! <se this in"ormation to compute the equilibrant vectors ro! the resultant 'ectors obtained in each o" your graph in results * 'case: 4, *, and 8( 6! $or the "irst part only ' 200 g at 45o / 200 g at 135 o(, 0ompute the percent error between the equilibrant vectors obtained through the experiment '"orce table( and the graphical method ' Assu!e that the &raphical !ethod &i'es you the true%accepted 'alue (!! Remember that a vector is de"ined through two properties: magnitude and angle# hence, you need to compute the percent error "or both '* computations(! 9n average, and based on your percent error values, which method is the most accurate; 2hich method is the most precise; 'my little "inger tells me there is a tric% question in there@(