AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY–BANGLADESH (AIUB)

FACULTY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
PHYSICS LAB 1
Fall 2022-2023
Section: B1, Group: 07

LAB REPORT ON
Verification of Newton’s Second Law of Motion by Atwood Machine.

Supervised By
DR. KAMRUN NAHAR MUKTA

Submitted By
Name ID Contribution
1. Kazi Ershadul Islam 22-48333-3 Graph
2. Shiam Talukder 22-48319-3 Taking different masses
3. Istiak Ahmed Ovie 22-48317-3 Calculating
4. Anik Sarker Rudra 22-48296-3 Data recording
5. Nazmul Haque Noyon 22-49988-3 Finding resources

Date of Submission: October 10, 2022

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

TOPICS Page no.

I. Title Page 1
II. Table of Content 2
1. Theory 3
2. Apparatus 4
3. Procedure 4
4. Experimental Data 5
5. Result 6
6. Discussion 7
7. References 7

2
1. Theory

Newton’s second of motion tells that force causes acceleration and the relationship between
net force acting on an object, Fₙₑₜ and its acceleration, a is: Fₙₑₜ=ma , where m is the mass
of that object.
In Atwood machine, two masses m and M are suspended by a piece of inelastic light string
that passes over a pulley in a vertical plane as the fig. 2.1 shows. The two masses are
connected with a string, because of this, they must have same tension, T and acceleration, a .

Considering the upward direction as positive, neglecting friction and mass of the pulley, and
applying Newton’s second law of motion we get,

For M : Fₙₑₜ=Mg−T =Ma

For m: Fₙₑₜ=T −mg=ma

Solving these two equations, we get the theoretical acceleration as

(M −m)
a th= g
( M + m)
As acceleration due to gravity g is constant in a particular place and taking total mass
(M +m) constant for the Atwood machine, according to Newton’s second law we get,
aₜₕ ∝(M −m)

3
 Figure 2.1: Arrangement of an Atwood machine. Here M >m
According to fig. 2.1 the mass M falls a distance D in time t from rest. Applying the
1 2
knowledge of equations of motion ( D=ut + at ) we can calculate the experimental
2
acceleration by
2D
a ex =
t2

For different mass combination, ( M −m ) we will get different experimental acceleration, a ex

If we find a linear relationship between a exand ( M−m) for the Atwood machine, we can say
that Newton’s second law is verified.

2. Apparatus
 Pulley
 Two hangers
 Different masses
 String
 Stand and clamp
 Meter scale
 Stop watch

3. Procedure

 The lighter mass was hold on the floor attached to one end of a string by us. The heavier one
was attached to the other-end of the string is up in the air at a height D from the floor.
Measured D was done with a meter scale.
 Then the lighter mass and measured the time was released the heavier mass was taken to fall
onto the floor. We had run the experiment for 7 different mass-differences, ( M −m ). For
each run, the value of the acceleration was obtained in (m / s2) experimentally as well as
theoretically. Make sure to keep total mass (M + m) always constant.

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  After that Excel plot acceleration (a ₜₕ and aₑₓ ) versus mass difference ( M −m ) graph was
used by us.

4. Experimental Data
Table 2.1: Acceleration for different mass combination.

M m Height Time Mean 2D ( M −m) (M-m)

time
a exp= a th= g (gm)
t2 (M + m)
(gm) (gm) D t
t
(cm) (s)
(s)
0.59

500 200 80 0.62 0.64 390.63 420 300

0.71

0.67

475 225 80 0.76 0.71 317.39 350 250

0.70

0.74

450 250 80 0.81 0.79 256.4 280 200

0.82

0.93

425 275 80 0.85 0.91 193.21 210 150

0.95

1.14

400 300 80 1.11 1.16 118.9 140 100

1.13

1.85

375 325 80 1.88 1.85 46.7 70 50

5
 1.82

350 350 ___ 0 0 0 0

a ₍ₑₓₚ₎, a ₍ₜₕ₎ vs (M-m)

450

400

350

300
a(exp), a(th)

250

200

150

100

50

0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

(M-m)

5. Result

6
 From the ‘acceleration vs mass difference’ graph, the relationship between experimental
acceleration and mass difference is linear for the Atwood machine same as the theory says.
Thus, we can say that Newton’s second law is verified.

6. Discussion
At first, some mistakes were made while taking Time t . For that reason, a graph of
a ₍ ₑₓₚ ₎ , a ₍ ₜₕ ₎ vs (M −m) was crossed by each other in the graph. After that, the
measurement of Time was taken carefully and this time, we made it okay as the graph looks
perfect.

7. References
 Fundamental of Physics (10th Edition): Newton’s second law of motion (Chapter 5,
page 98-100).

 Physics 1 lab manual.

 Video link:
 Newton’s second law: https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyA6lBWUEDE
 Atwood Machine: https//www.youtube.com/watch?/=a0KVxh8iPPa