I.

TITLE: Newton’s Second Law of Motion: Simple Atwood’s Machine

II. OBJECTIVES: Verify Newton’s Second Law of Motion

Measure the acceleration due to gravity

III. APPARATUS AND MATERIALS: Linear Track Apparatus, Motion Sensor,

PASCAR, Pulley, Weight Hanger, String, Slotted Masses: 2 pcs of 5 grams, 2 pcs
of 10 grams, 1 pc of 2 grams, 1 pc of 100 grams

LINEAR TRACK APPARATUS

WEIGHT HANGER
MOTION SENSOR

PULLEY PASCAR
STRING SLOTTED MASSES
 PASCAR
Pulley

Motion Sensor

Slotted
Masses Linear Track
Apparatus

Weight
Hanger

IV. PROCEDURE
Preparing for the Experiment
1. SPARKvue app was launched on the device that will be used. Then Sensor Data was
clicked.
2. The Motion Sensor was connected to the SPARKvue app on the device through
Bluetooth.
3. Then Graph was clicked in the selection of Templates.
4. Set up button was clicked, and it was checked if the measurement is based on velocity.
5. The sample rate was adjusted to 50 Hz.
Part I. Constant Mass and Increasing Net Force
1. The pulley was attached on the end of the linear track apparatus and the motion
sensor was placed on the other end of the linear track apparatus.
2. For Trial 1, the PASCAR was stacked with 350g of the slotted masses and the hanger
was stacked with 55g of the slotted masses. The mass on the car was recorded under
the m1 and the mass on the hanger was recorded on m2. The total mass that was on
the car and on the hanger was recorded under M.
3. The start button was clicked on the device and the system was released. And it was
stopped when the PASCAR reaches the end of the linear track apparatus.
4. On the bottom left of the screen, the selection tool was pressed in order to highlight
the key points in the data presented. Once highlighted, a set of data would be provided
rise
5. With that, the acceleration of the cart is presented by m or the or in this case,
run
Δvelocity 𝒎
. This data under a (𝒔𝟐).
Δtime
a(M)
6. The gexp was calculated by using this formula: gexp = . This was recorded under
m2

gexp.
Gstd − Gexp
7. The percentage of error was calculated by using this formula: %Diff = x 100
Gstd

and this is recorded on the table under %Diff. (gstd = 9.81m/s2)

8. The same steps were done in the next trials but on trial 2, 20g was transferred from
the PASCAR to the hanger. In trial 3 and 4, 5g was transferred from the PASCAR to
the hanger.
Part II. Constant Net Force and Increasing Mass
1. The set-up used in Part I was used in this part. But in this part, the mass on the hanger
stays constant which is 105g.
2. For Trial 1, the PASCAR was stacked with 370g of the slotted masses. The mass on
the car was recorded under the m1 and the mass on the hanger was recorded on m2.
The total mass that was on the car and on the hanger was recorded under M.
3. The start button was clicked on the device and the system was released. And it was
stopped when the PASCAR reaches the end of the linear track apparatus.
4. On the bottom left of the screen, the selection tool was pressed in order to highlight
the key points in the data presented. Once highlighted, a set of data would be provided
rise
5. With that, the acceleration of the cart is presented by m or the or in this case,
run
Δvelocity 𝐦
. This data under a (𝐬𝟐 ).
Δtime
a(M)
6. The gexp was calculated by using this formula: gexp = . This was recorded under
m2

gexp.
Gstd − Gexp
7. The percentage of error was calculated by using this formula: %Diff = x 100
Gstd

and this is recorded on the table under %Diff. (gstd = 9.81m/s2)

8. The same steps were done in the next trials but on trial 2, 20g was added to the
PASCAR. In trial 3 and 4, 10g was added to the PASCAR.

V. DATA AND RESULTS

Part I: Constant Mass and Increasing Net Force
𝑚
Trial m1 m2 M a (𝒔 𝟐 ) gexp %error
1 350 g 55 g 1.20 8.8364 9.9246%
2 330 g 75 g 1.67 9.018 8.0734%
405 g
3 325 g 80 g 1.82 9.2138 6.0775%
4 320 g 85 g 1.87 8.91 9.1743%

Part II: Constant Net Force and Increasing Mass

𝑚
Trial m1 m2 M a ( 𝟐) gexp %error
𝒔
1 370 g 475 g 2.04 9.2286 5.9266%
2 390 g 495 g 1.98 9.3342 4.8502%
105 g
3 400 g 505 g 1.84 9.0248 8.0041%
4 510 g 525 g 1.54 9.02 8.0530%

VI. COMPUTATION AND ANALYSIS

1. By the use of the appropriate formulas and using the data obtained in acceleration
due to gravity and percentage of error.
• Part I. Constant Mass and Increasing Net Force

𝒂(𝑴)
Solving for gexp =
𝐦𝟐
1.82(405𝑔)
1.20(405𝑔) Trial 3: gexp =
Trial 1: gexp = 80g
55g
gexp = 9.2138 m/s2
gexp = 8.8364 m/s2
1.87(405𝑔)
1.67(405𝑔) Trial 4: gexp =
Trial 2: gexp = 85𝑔
75g
gexp = 8.91 m/s2
gexp = 9.018 m/s2
 Gstd − Gexp
Solving for %Diff = x 100
Gexp

9.81m/s2 −8.8364 m/s2

Trial 1: %Diff = x 100
8.8364 m/s2

= 9.9246%
9.81m/s2 −9.018m/s2
Trial 2: %Diff = = x 100
9.018m/s2

= 8.0734%
9.81m/s2 −9.2138m/s2
Trial 3: %Diff = x 100
9.2138m/s2

= 6.0775%
9.81m/s2 −8.91m/s2
Trial 4: %Diff = x 100
8.91m/s2

= 9.1743%

• Part II. Constant Net Force and Increasing Mass

𝒂(𝑴) Gstd − Gexp

Solving for gexp = Solving for %Diff = x 100
𝐦𝟐 Gexp
2.04(479𝑔) 9.81m/s2 −9.2286 m/s2
Trial 1: gexp = Trial 1: %Diff = x 100
105g 9.2286 m/s2
gexp = 9.2286 m/s2 = 5.9266%
1.98(495𝑔)
Trial 2: gexp = 9.81m/s2 −9.3342m/s2
105g Trial 2: %Diff = = x 100
9.3342m/s2
gexp = 9.3342 m/s2 = 4.8502%
1.84(505𝑔)
Trial 3: gexp = 9.81m/s2 −9.0248m/s2
105g Trial 3: %Diff = x 100
9.0248m/s2
gexp = 9.0248 m/s2 = 8.0041%
1.54(505𝑔)
Trial 4: gexp = 9.81m/s2 −9.02m/s2
105𝑔 Trial 4: %Diff = x 100
9.02m/s2
gexp = 9.02 m/s2
= 8.0530%
2. How does the change in the hanging mass (m) affect the value of acceleration?
It was observed in the data collated, that as the hanging mass or the mass that
is on the hanger is increased as the mass on the PASCAR was decreased, the value of
acceleration of the PASCAR increased. It can therefore be concluded that the hanging
mass is directly proportional to the value of acceleration.
3. In the second part of the experiment, are the values of acceleration affected by the
change in the value of the total moving mass (M)? Explain.
It was observed that as the total moving mass was increased, the vaues of
acceleration decreased with it. This is anchored by the concept of Newton’s Second Law
which states that the acceleration that an object experiences decreases with increased
mass.
4. In each case of the experiment, how are the mass, net force and acceleration relate
to each other?
Newton’s second law states the net force and the acceleration is directly
proportional (as observed in the experiment). This means that when you increase the
force that you put in an object, its’ value of acceleration is expected to also increase.
While when there is an increase of the mass that the object is handling, the acceleration
decreases. For example, when the weight is doubled, the force is then reduced by
half.Therefore, the acceleration is inversely proportional to the mass of the object.

VII. QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS

1. Is weight of a body the same thing as its mass?
The weight of a body is not the same thing as its mass. A mass of body is
basically the measurement of matter in an object. It is expressed in grams, kilogram, etc.
While the weight of the body is the force exerted by gravity on that body. Meaning that if
a body has a mass of 1 gram, its mass will always be 1 gram. And when that body is at
the Earth’s surface, its weight would be 9.81x10-3 N while when it is on Mars’ surface, its
weight would be 3.5x10-3.
2. A cord passes over a weightless and frictionless pulley. Masses of 200 and 300 grams
are attached to the ends of the cord. Find the distance the masses will move during
the fifth second after they had started.

SOLUTION:
GIVEN:
• Fnet = (0.3)(9.81) – (0.2)(9.81)
m1 = 200g/0.2kg
Fnet = 0.981 N
m2 = 300g/0.3kg
F = ma
0.981
a=
0.5
a = 1.962 m/s2
t=4‣t=5
𝑎
a = ( ) (52 – 42)
2

a = 8.82 m
1
• Y = V0t + 2gt2
1
Y = (1.962)(5) + 2(9.81)(5)2

Y = 132.435 m

3. Two bodies having masses m1 = 30 grams and m2 = 40 grams are attached to the
ends of a string of negligible mass and suspended from a light frictionless pulley. Find
the acceleration of the bodies and the tension in the string.

GIVEN: SOLUTION:
m1 = 30g/0.03kg • Fnet = (0.04)(9.81) – (0.03)(9.81)
m2 = 40g/0.04kg Fnet = 0.0981 N
F = ma
0.0981
a=
0.07
a = 1.40 m/s2
• T = (0.04)(9.81) + (0.03)(9.81)
T = 0.6867
VIII. CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the experiment assessed the Newton’s Second Law. As
observed in the data, that as the hanging mass is increased (which is considered as one
of the forces acting upon the whole set up aside from gravity) the value of acceleration
of the PASCAR increased. Which would then mean that the hanging mass or the force is
directly proportional to the value of acceleration. On the other hand, it was also observed
that as the mass (present on PASCAR) was increased, the value of acceleration is then
decreased. This means that the value of acceleration is inversely proportional to the
mass. This whole concept is expressed by this formula: F = ma; where in F is the force,
m is mass, and a is acceleration.