Tang Man Hay F.

5E (24)

From the above figure,

Tension T = Weight of the slotted weights
T = Mg
Vertical component of tension T = Weight of the rubber bung mg
T cosθ = mg
Horizontal component of tension T = Centripetal force
T sinθ = mrω2 ------(1)
r = L sinθ ------(2)
Substitute (2) into (1),
T sinθ = m(L sinθ)ω2
T = mω2 L = Mg

D. Procedures
1) Measure the mass of the rubber bung with cork.
2) Construct the centripetal force apparatus as shown in Fig.a.
3) Measure the length L of the nylon string from the rubber bung to the glass
tube, for example, L=0.5m.
4) Mark the length measured with paper marker on the string at the lower end
of the glass tube.
5) Hold the glass tube vertically and whirl the rubber bung around. Ensure that
the paper marker is just below the glass tube.
6) Whirl the rubber bung for 50 times and measure the time needed.
2π
7) By ω= , calculate the angular velocity ω.
T

8) Repeat steps 3 to 7 for serval times with different lengths L, for example,
0.6m, 0.7m and 0.8m, of the nylon string.

E. Results and Calculation

Mass of rubber bung with cork m = 0.01962 kg
Mass of slotted weight M = 0.09 kg
Tension in the string T = Mg = 0.09 x 9.81 = 0.8829 N

Length of string 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8

L/m
Time for 50 34 37 39 42
revolutions
50T/s
 Tang Man Hay F.5E (24)

Angular velocity 9.24 8.49 8.06 7.48

2π
ω= / radS−1
T

mω2 L / N 0.838 0.849 0.891 0.878

Mean mω2 L = 0.864 N

The percentage difference of the tension in the nylon string from the mean
value of mω2 L
0.8829−0.864
= x 100%
0.8829
= 2.14%

F. Discussion
Q1. What provided the centripetal force that keeps the rubber bung moving in
circle?
A1. The horizontal component of tension T provides the centripetal force.

Q2. Describe and explain how the angle θ changes when the rubber bung is
whirled faster and faster?
A2. When the rubber bung is whirled faster and faster, the linear speed and
angular velocity ω increase.
By T cosθ = mg,
mω2 L(cosθ) = mg
ω2 L(cosθ) = g
In the above equation, L and g remain unchanged while ω increases. Cosθ
decreases so angle θ increases.

Q3. The rotating string can never be exactly horizontal. Why?

A3. It is because a force is needed to balance the weight of the rubber bung.
In this experiment, only the vertical component of the tension T in the
string can balance the weight of the rubber bung. Thus, the rotating string
can never be exactly horizontal.

Q4. Give three possible sources of error in this experiment.

A4. There is friction between the glass tube and the nylon string.
The glass tube is not held vertically.
There is air resistance acting on the rubber bung so the rubber bung is
not whirled at constant speed.
 Tang Man Hay F.5E (24)

Q5. Allow the rubber bung to move in a larger circle. What must be done to
keep it moving with the same angular speed as before?
A5. By F= mrω2 , when r increases and ω remains unchanged, F increases.
Thus, by T sinθ = mrω2 , tension should increase so the angular speed
can be constant.

Q6. Without adding more weights, whirl the bung so that it moves faster and
faster (i.e. at a greater linear speed). What happens to the radius of the
circle r and the angular speed ω?
A6. By T = Mg = mω2 L,
Mg = mω2 L
Mg, m and L remain unchanged so ω should also remain unchanged.
By v = rω,
v increases while ω remains unchanged, Thus, r should increase.

G. Conclusion
T = mω2 L
𝑇
ω2 =
𝑚𝐿

𝑇 1
ω2 = x
𝑚 𝐿

ω2 /ra ⅆ2 s−2 7.482 = 56.0 8.062 = 65.0 8.492 = 72.1 9.242 = 85.4

1 −1 1 1 1 1
/m = 1.25 = 1.43 = 1.67 =2
L 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5

ω2 /ra ⅆ2 s −2

1 −1
/m
L