Addition of Vectors Using a Force Table PDF

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Addition of Vectors Using a Force Table...

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Addition of Vectors Using a Force Table Akanksha Chouhan Physics Lab Report 26 September 2018

Partners: Briana Lenard and Amber Dimartini

Purpose: The intent of this experiment is to study vector addition by balancing force vectors on the force table apparatus. Vectors are forces with magnitude and direction. When studying a pair

of vectors,one is able to calculate a resultant vector that would balance the other two to create a state of equilibrium. When studying this resulting set of three vectors balanced to a state of equilibrium, one is able to break each vector down into its x and y components, then the sum of the x’s and y’s should equal zero to demonstrate the state of equilibrium that the system is in. This is essentially the process we went through in this lab to demonstrate the equilibrium in a set of pulleys on a force table. Theory: Weight is measured in Newtons, which is the measurement of force, mass measures matter, and it is calculated in kilograms. The force and mass are related by Equation One: Equation One:

F is the force which is equal to the mass times the gravity: this is always constant at 9.8N/kg. Sketch:

Data/Analysis: Table One

Resultant Vector

Equilibrant Vector Magnitude

Magnitude

Direction

370

3.626

113 degrees

122

1.1956

315 degrees

Table Two

Resultant Vector

Experimental

Equilibrant

Calculated

Resultant

Magnitude

Direction

Magnitude

Direction

R1=A+B

3.626 N

113

3.73 N

293.21

R2=A+C

1.1956 N

315

1.18 N

134.49

Analysis: In order to find values in table one, the group first converted each of the grams into kilograms, which is the standard mass measurement unit. Then, we performed the calculations necessary to find the values of the other tables. The calculations are as follow on the next page.

Conclusion: To conclude, this experiment studied vector addition through the comparison of the gathered experimental results and the graphical construction for several forces. Our calculations for delta x and delta y gave results that did not exceed the absolute values for the sums of the xand y- components. This demonstrated that the forces for this experiment were not at equilibrium, but the values for uncertainty allowed this experiment to have validity. This showed that there is a difference between the experimental data gathered in this experiment and the data gathered from the graphical constructions because in the experimental we had equilibrium, but in the graphical equilibrium wasn’t achieved....