NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCES & TECHNOLOGY

SCHOOL OF MECHANICAL AND MANUFACTURING

ENGINEERING.

PASCAR Experiments 3 & 4

Lab Instructor: Ma’am Shumaila Fatima

School: School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering (SMME)
Section: ME-14C
Semester: 1st
Group: 2
Date: 21st November 2022

# Name CMS ID
1 Muhammad Mustafa Siddiqui 429616
2 Muhammad Zain Ul Abideen 408541
3 Mowahhid Bin Safdar 406783
4 Saiyad Muhammad Aqeel Abbas 423444
5 Abdullah Khan 411025
6 Hamaad Javed 423184
Experiment 3: Newton’s Second Law (Predicting Accelerations)
Abstract
The purpose of this lab is to conduct an experiment and find the acceleration of the PAScar. Then,
we will determine the theoretical value of acceleration as predicted by Newton’s Second Law of
Motion. Subsequently, we will compare both values and find out the percentage difference.

Lap Equipment
1. PAScar
2. Pulley
3. Pulley clamp
4. Mass set
5. Stopwatch
6. String

Theory:
The newton’s second law (F=ma) states that F is the net force acting on the object of mass m, and a
is the acceleration due to the net force applied. The mass m also the total mass being accelerated. An
experimental value for the car’s acceleration a can be determined from:

Where, a is the acceleration of the car, d is the distance moved and t is the time taken for the car to
move the distance d.
Assuming that the tabletop is completely flat. Newton's Second Law (F = ma) predicts that the
acceleration of this system will be:

Where m is the external load attached. M total is the total mass of the system (car and external
weight) and g is acceleration due to gravity.

Procedure:
1. You are required to set up a pulley, car, and a magnetic end-stop to prevent the car from
hitting the pulley at the end of its run.
2. The table must be flat such that the car is completely stationary at the track.
3. Put a loop in one end of the string and place this loop over the spring-release trigger on the
PAScar. Drape the string over the pulley. Adjust the pulley so the string is level.
4. Adjust the length of the string so that the longest arrangement of masses you intend to use
will not hit the floor before the car has reached the end of its run. Put a loop in this end of the
string.
5. Attach the pulley and end stop to the track as. Place the cart on the track. Tie a string to the
lower attachment point of the cart. Tie a mass hanger on the other end of the string. Run the
string under the end stop and over the pulley.
6. Adjust the pulley so that the string runs parallel to the track. The string must be just long
enough so the cart reaches the end stop before the mass hanger reaches the floor.
 7. Attach a known mass to the mass hanger and then pull the cart back a known distance and
record this distance as this distance must be kept constant for all attempts.
8. Carefully release the cart and determine the average time for the car to move through the
distance d, having been released from rest. Record the average of the four-time trials in which
you have the most confidence in. Repeat for different know masses.

Calculations:
Calculating experimental values of acceleration (aexp).
2𝑑
𝑎𝑒𝑥𝑝 =
𝑡2
- for 250g
Mass (g) # Time (s) Distance (m) Accelerationexp (m/s2)
10 1 1.15 0.32 0.501
2 1.08 0.32 0.5484
3 1.14 0.32 0.492
4 1.13 0.32 0.501
20 1 0.87 0.32 0.8456
2 0.87 0.32 0.8456
3 0.88 0.32 0.826
4 0.93 0.32 0.739
30 1 0.75 0.32 1.137
2 0.74 0.32 1.169
3 0.75 0.32 1.169
4 0.80 0.32 1.0
40 1 0.67 0.32 1.426
2 0.68 0.32 1.384
3 0.67 0.32 1.426
4 0.69 0.32 1.344

Averages:
o 10g = 0.5105 m/s2
o 20g = 0.8141 m/s2
o 30g = 1.119 m/s2
o 40g = 1.395 m/s2

- for 500g
Mass (g) # Time (s) Distance (m) Accelerationexp (m/s2)
10 1 1.66 0.32 0.2323
2 1.73 0.32 0.2138
3 1.66 0.32 0.2323
4 1.79 0.32 0.1997
20 1 1.20 0.32 0.444
2 1.20 0.32 0.444
3 1.21 0.32 0.4371
4 1.26 0.32 0.4031
30 1 1.01 0.32 0.6274
2 1.00 0.32 0.64
3 1.06 0.32 0.5696
4 1.00 0.32 0.64
 40 1 0.94 0.32 0.7243
2 0.88 0.32 0.8264
3 0.87 0.32 0.8456
4 0.88 0.32 0.8264

Averages:
o 10g = 0.2195 m/s2
o 20g = 0.4321 m/s2
o 30g = 0.6169 m/s2
o 40g = 0.8057 m/s2
Calculating theoretical values of acceleration (ath).
- for 250g
o 10g
10
𝑎𝑡ℎ = × 9.81 = 0.3773 𝑚/𝑠 2
250 + 10
o 20g
20
𝑎𝑡ℎ = × 9.81 = 0.7267 𝑚/𝑠 2
250 + 20
o 30g
30
𝑎𝑡ℎ = × 9.81 = 1.05 𝑚/𝑠 2
250 + 30
o 40g
40
𝑎𝑡ℎ = × 9.81 = 1.35 𝑚/𝑠 2
250 + 40

- for 500g
o 10g
10
𝑎𝑡ℎ = × 9.81 = 0.1924 𝑚/𝑠 2
500 + 10
o 20g
20
𝑎𝑡ℎ = × 9.81 = 0.3773 𝑚/𝑠 2
500 + 20
o 30g
30
𝑎𝑡ℎ = × 9.81 = 0.553 𝑚/𝑠 2
500 + 30
o 40g
40
𝑎𝑡ℎ = × 9.81 = 0.7267 𝑚/𝑠 2
500 + 40
 Calculating percentage difference between theoretical and experimental values of acceleration.
𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 − 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙
𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 = × 100%
𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙

PAScar Mass Mass Theoretical Experimental Percentage Difference

(g) (g) (m/s2) (m/s2) (%)
250 10 0.3773 0.5105 35.3
20 0.7267 0.8141 12.0
30 1.05 1.119 6.57
40 1.35 1.395 3.33
500 10 0.1924 0.2195 14.0
20 0.3773 0.4321 14.5
30 0.553 0.6169 11.5
40 0.7267 0.8057 10.8

Questions:
Can you think of any systematic errors that would affect your results? Explain how each would
skew your results?
The systematic errors that can potentially affect my results are a default offset in my instrument, and
calibration error on the meter rule. The default offset in my instrument can cause my readings to be
always have either positive deviation or always negative deviation from the actual values which can
skew the result positively and negatively, affecting my experimental values of acceleration.
Moreover, the calibration error in the meter rule can give all deviated values of the distance travelled
by the PAScar which can skew the acceleration values and cause a more significant difference
between the experimental and theoretical values.
Did the results of the experiment verify F=ma?
The results verify 2nd law of motion as acceleration increases as we increase the weight on the pulley

Experiment 4: Cart Calibration (Measuring the Spring Constant)

Abstract
The purpose of this lab is to conduct an experiment to find the percentage difference between the
theoretical and experimental values of the time period.

Lab Equipment
1. PAScar
2. Mass set
3. Stopwatch

Theory
In simple harmonic motion, F = -Kx where;
F – restoring force
K – spring constant
x – displacement
This can also be represented as a straight-line using y = mx + c where;
c – y-intercept (which is zero)
∆𝑦
m – gradient (that is ∆𝑥 )
∆𝐹
Since the gradient represents the spring constant (that is ∆𝑥 )

𝑚
Hence 𝑇 = 2𝜋√ 𝑘 where;

T = time period
m = mass
k = spring constant

Procedure
1. Attach a string to one end of the PASCAR and attach the hook to the other end. Drape the string
over the pulley and let it hang freely from the table.
2. Use the masses from the mass set and add increments of 10g. For each hanging mass, calculate
the weight using F=mg.
3. Using two readings of F and x, calculate the constant. Repeat and calculate the average value for
k.
4. Use the average value of k to find the theoretical time period.
5. Remove the hanging masses and displace the car, starting the stopwatch as soon as it is released.
Measure the time for 5 oscillations and divide it by 5 to get the experimental time period.
6. Finally, calculate the percentage difference between the theoretical and experimental time
periods.

Calculations
Calculating the theoretical value of the spring constant (k).
𝑚
𝑇 = 2𝜋√
𝑘
# Mass (Kg) Force (Newtons) X (meters)
1 0.02 0.196 0.248
2 0.04 0.392 0.240
3 0.06 0.588 0.233
4 0.08 0.784 0.226
5 0.10 0.980 0.221

𝐹3 − 𝐹1
𝑘1 =
𝑥3 − 𝑥1
0.588 − 0.196
𝑘1 =
0.233 − 0.248
𝑘1 = −26.13
 𝐹4 − 𝐹2
𝑘2 =
𝑥4 − 𝑥2
0.784 − 0.392
𝑘2 =
0.226 − 0.240
𝑘2 = −28

𝐹5 − 𝐹3
𝑘3 =
𝑥5 − 𝑥3
0.980 − 0.588
𝑘3 =
0.221 − 0.233
𝑘3 = −32.66

− (26.13 + 28 + 32.66)
𝑘𝑎𝑣𝑔 =
3
𝑘𝑎𝑣𝑔 = (−) 28.93

Calculating the theoretical value of the time period (T).

𝑚
𝑇 = 2𝜋√
𝑘

- for 250 g

0.25
𝑇 = 2𝜋√
28.93

𝑇 = 0.5840 𝑠
- for 500 g

0.5
𝑇 = 2𝜋√
28.93

𝑇 = 0.825 𝑠
- for 750 g

1
𝑇 = 2𝜋√
28.93

𝑇 = 1.16 𝑠
Calculating the experimental value of the time period (T).
Mass (g) # Time (s) Time Period (s)
250 1 3.40 0.68
 2 3.60 0.72
3 3.75 0.75
4 3.11 0.62
500 1 4.20 0.84
2 4.20 0.84
3 4.55 0.91
4 4.09 0.818
750 1 5.08 1.016
2 5.02 1.004
3 5.60 1.12
4 4.88 0.976
- for 250g
0.68 + 0.72 + 0.75 + 0.62
𝑇=
4
𝑇 = 0.6925 𝑠
- for 500g
0.84 + 0.84 + 0.91 + 0.818
𝑇=
4
𝑇 = 0.852 𝑠
- for 750g
1.016 + 1.004 + 1.12 + 0.976
𝑇=
4
𝑇 = 1.029 𝑠

Calculating the percentage difference between the theoretical and experimental values of the time
period (T).
𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 − 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙
𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 = × 100%
𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙

- for 250g
0.692 − 0.584
% 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 = × 100%
0.584

% 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 = 18%

- for 500g
0.852 − 0.825
% 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 = × 100%
0.825

% 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 = 3.65%

- for 750g
1.029 − 1.16
% 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 = × 100%
1.16

% 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 = 11%
Discussion and Conclusion: This experiment successfully deduces the percentage difference
between theoretical and experimental values of T with respect to the average T. The difference of
theoretical values and experimental values can successfully be used to conclude that the experiment
was performed correctly as the percentage differences are under 20%. Moreover, Hookes was
applied correctly to find the different spring constants under varying mass on the pulley and the mass
of the PAScar (250, 500 and 750g).