Experiment-4

The Force Table

PHYS170-L
Introductory physics laboratory
Instructor: Musallam Tabook

Date of Experiment :
17-03-2024
24-03-2024
Section: 01
Student ID Student Name:
202311305 Manar Yaqoob Al-Senaidi
202221075 Maria Said Al Saidi
202111051 Alyamama Mohsin Al-Ibrahim
202312449 Shayma Khamis Alsatmi

1
Theory:
The force table is an easy tool that can easily describe and demonstrate Newton’s
first law and vector nature of forces. By using the force table it enables us to
manipulate and control the measurments and the effects of the vector quantities.
Vector quantities require two types, both magnitude and direction. An example of
these quantities might be the wind velocity, as it can blow in direction and with
certain speed in magnitude.
To understand how exactly the force table work. It basically works with balancing
force with certain angles. It works by placing a defined mass in each string
attached to the force table. Due to the mass force driven by gravity, the force would
act in a vertical direction. That’s why the tension from the string that is attached to
the ring in the middle of the table is equal in force of the magnitude due to the
gravity of the string and mass.
We use the force table to determine the equilibrant of one or more vectors that are
ready known forces and after that we use the data we get and compare the result
with the graphical method for analyzing the data from both methods.
Some photos that demonstrate the force table:

2
Introduction:
A body is in a state of equilibrium (at rest) under the influence of a
group of forces when the resultant of these forces is zero.
To bring a body into a state of equilibrium under the influence of two
forces, we add a counterforce to the resultant of these two forces, and it
is called the counterresultant force.
Experiment Objectives:
➢ Study the rules for adding vectors and balanced forces using the
Forces table.
➢ Use the force table to experimentally determine the force which
balances the other forces.
Apparatus:
▪ Force Table
▪ 3 pulleys and pulley clamps
▪ 3 mass hangers
▪ mass set
▪ . String
▪ meter scale
▪ Protractor
▪ 2 sheets of plane paper and graph
Force table: Mass set Protractor: Graph paper:

3
Procedure:
o To find the angle and mass for the third pulley, we figure it out by trial and
error, we try different masses and different angles to find balance among the
other pulleys. The third force is called the equilibrant which is the negative
of the resultant.
o The ring that is placed on the middle of the table should be balanced so it
doesn’t rub/touch against the black pole right in the middle, as long as it’s
not touching then it’s demonstrating the balance of the 3 masses.
o After noting the experimental results, we compare the values with the
graphical results and calculate the percentage of error between the two
values.
Formula:

𝐹 = 𝑚𝑔
F: force
m: mass
g: gravity

Precautions:

❖ While placing masses, be careful of the angle and mass

measurments.
❖ When taking the resultants pulleys masses, we pay attention to the
scale carefully for accuracy.
❖ When doing the graph drawing, we make sure to take the correct
scale for the drawing for more precision and accuratition.

4
 Observations/Results:

F1 F2 FR FG
%𝑴 %Θ
𝑴 𝑹 − 𝑴𝑮 Θ𝑹 − Θ𝑮
S.No =|
𝑴𝑮
| =|
Θ𝑮
|
× 𝟏𝟎𝟎% × 𝟏𝟎𝟎%
M1 𝚯𝟏 M2 𝚯𝟐 MR 𝚯𝑹 MG 𝚯𝑮

%𝑴 %Θ
59 − 60 120 − 125
=| | =| |
60 125
1 50g 0 100g 150 59g 120 60g 125 × 𝟏𝟎𝟎% × 𝟏𝟎𝟎%
= 1.6666667% = 4%

%𝑴 %Θ
107 − 108 352 − 350
=| | =| |
2 50g 60 100g 320 107g 352 108g 350 × 𝟏𝟎𝟎%
108
× 𝟏𝟎𝟎%
350

=0.9259% =0.571%

%𝑴 %Θ
130 − 130 200 − 200
=| | =| |
3 100g 120 150g 240 130g 200 130g 200 × 𝟏𝟎𝟎%
130
× 𝟏𝟎𝟎%
200

=0% =0%
Analyzing data:

➢ Comparing the values we got from the force table and the graph drawing, we sum
up that the numbers and measurments are pretty precise which means that they are
very close to acuuration.

5
Graph drawings:
Drawing for S.No: 1

By using the vector online calculator to check the drawing we notice that
both drawing are very similar:

6
Drawing for S.No: 2

As well as drawing n.2:

7
Drawing for S.No: 3

And lastly the third drawing

8
Conclusion:

The vector force table could be compared to the graphical sketches

drawn of vectors F1,F2 and 𝐹𝑅 on one graph. In the experiment, the
resultant force was found by adding weight on vector setup 𝐹𝑅 until
equilibrium was reached. Similarly, the angle of vector 𝐹𝑅 measured on
the vector force table could be compared to the angle of vector 𝐹𝑅
calculated analytically to how accurately the vector force table could
depict the analytical calculations.

Reference:
1. The Force Table - SMU Physics
2. https://physicslabs.ccnysites.cuny.edu/labs/207/207-force-
tables/forcetables.php
3. PASCO Instructional manual, https://www.pasco.com/products/lab-manuals.
4. Physics for scientists and engineers with modern physics, 8th edition, by
raymon A. Serway and John W. Jewett, Jr., Brooks/cole-CENAGE
Learning, 2010, ISBN:9781439048757.
5. http://www.du.edu.om/moodle/
6. https://www.mathisfun.com/algebra/vector-calculator.html