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Lab 5 Report

This document summarizes an experiment investigating static equilibrium. The experiment had three parts: 1) revising vector concepts, 2) using a mechanics system to study static equilibrium, and 3) using an inclined plane. In part two, friction on pulleys caused a 31% difference between experimental and theoretical values. Part three found only a 5% difference using one pulley. The experiment was partly successful, with part three achieving near equilibrium but part two showing larger errors from friction over multiple pulleys.

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56 views

Lab 5 Report

This document summarizes an experiment investigating static equilibrium. The experiment had three parts: 1) revising vector concepts, 2) using a mechanics system to study static equilibrium, and 3) using an inclined plane. In part two, friction on pulleys caused a 31% difference between experimental and theoretical values. Part three found only a 5% difference using one pulley. The experiment was partly successful, with part three achieving near equilibrium but part two showing larger errors from friction over multiple pulleys.

Uploaded by

bigfootted
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Experiment 5

Static Equilibrium of Forces


By

Monty N. J. Attzs
PHY 2091-07
Experiment Performer: 13th Feb 2014
Report Submitted: 27th Feb 2014

Lab Partners:

Hunter

Instructor:

Corinne Fletcher

Introduction
The purpose of this experiment was to investigate static equilibrium. This was done by firstly
revising vector manipulations (addition, components etc.) in part one and then by conducting two
experiments using the Pasco Mechanics System and an inclined plane in parts two and three
respectively. Considering all forces acting in each system, static equilibrium was examined and
the experimental results were compared to the ideal theoretical outcome. This was done by
calculating the net sum of all forces acting on the system, broken into two perpendicular
components, both experimentally and theoretically.

Data

Data Analysis
List of variables used:
Part 2

mA Mass A || mB Mass B || C Spring scale


FAY Component of force in y direction due to mA
FAX Component of force in x direction due to mA
FBY Component of force in y direction due to mB
FBX Component of force in x direction due to mB
FCX Component of force in x direction due to C
FCY Component of force in y direction due to C
FYex Experimental sum of forces in the y direction
FXex Experimental sum of forces in the x direction.
FEY Correctional error vector in the y direction
FEX Correctional error vector in the x direction
FE Total correctional error vector
Angle between vector and axis
%E Percent ratio of experimental vs theoretical error vectors
%d Percent difference between the experimental and theoretical values

Sample Calculations:
Experimental values were found for all forces in both the x and y directions.
Those in the y direction were found using the equation FY = F*sin, and those in
the x direction using the equation FX = F*cos.
For example:
FAY = mA*g*sin(55) = 0.105*9.81*sin(55) = 0.843N
FAX = mA*g*cos(55) = 0.105*9.81*cos(55) = -0.590N
The correctional error vectors were found by drawing a scaled graph of all the
vectors. Using a scale of 1cm : 0.20N in both the x and Y directions, it was found
to be: FEY = 0.028N
FEX = 0.224N
Therefore, FEex = SQRT[(0.028^2)+(0.224^2)] = 0.226N

The correctional error vector was also calculated mathematically (theoretically) as


follows:
The sum of all forces in each direction, x and y, were then found:
FYex = FAY + FBY + FCY = 0.843+1.704-2.696 = -0.149N
FXex = FAX + FBX + FCX = -0.590+1.613-1.315 = -0.292N
Since, theoretically, FYex = 0 and FXex = 0, the correctional error vectors were
calculated to be:
FEY = -FYex = 0.149N
FEX = -FXex = 0.292N
Therefore, FEth = SQRT[(0.149^2)+(0.292^2)] = 0.328N
The percent ratio and difference were then calculated:
%E = FEex/ FEth = (0.226/0.328)*100 = 69%
Therefore, %d = 100% - 69% = 31%

Part 3

mx Mass x hanging from pulley


mc Mass of cylinder resting on plane
FN Normal force plane exerts upon cylinder
F|_th Theoretical sum of forces in the perpendicular direction to plane
F//th Theoretical sum of forces in the parallel direction to plane
F|_ex Experimental sum of forces in the perpendicular direction to plane
F//ex Experimental sum of forces in the parallel direction to plane
Angle of inclination of plane
d Discrepancy in given value
%d Percent experimental error in given value

Sample Calculations:
Experimental values were found for all forces in both the parallel ( // ) and
perpendicular ( |_ ) directions.
The force in the parallel direction was found by taking the reading on the spring
scale (0.25N) and that in the perpendicular direction was found by calculating the
weight of the hanging mass, mx (mx*g = 1.421).
Theoretical values for these two forces were also calculated for the force in the
parallel direction using the equation:
F// = mc*g*sin = 0.145*9.81*sin(10) = 0.264N
And for the force in the perpendicular direction using the equation:
F|_= mc*g*cos = 0.145*9.81*cos(10) = 1.495N
The discrepancy, d, and percent experimental errors, %d, were then calculated:
dF// = | F//th - F//ex | = | 1.495 1.519 | = 0.074N
%dF// = [dF// / F//th] * 100 = 5%
dF|_ = | F|_th F|_ex | = | 0.264 0.25 | = 0.014N
%dF|_ = [dF|_ / F|_th] * 100 = 5%

Discussion
Part 2:
Experimental correction vector:
Graphically (experimentally):

FEY = 0.028N
FEX = 0.224N
FE = 0.226N
Mathematically (theoretically):

FEY = 0.149N
FEX = 0.292N
FE = 0.328N
Percent ratio:

%E = 69%
Percent difference:

%d = 31%
Part 3:

F//ex
F|_ex
F//th
F|_th
dF//
dF|_
%dF//
%dF|_

= 0.25N
= 1.421N
= 0.264N
= 1.495N
= 0.014N
= 0.074N
= 5%
= 5%

In the first part of this lab, two exercises were done on the computer. These exercises tested, and
also allowed for revision of, vector manipulation, in preparation for the following two parts of
the lab.
In the second part, static equilibrium was investigated using the Pasco Mechanics System. The
sources of error in this part include random intrinsic errors caused by friction. This included
friction on the pulleys (more so if the strings were not actually held parallel to the backboard
and/or each other) and friction on the piston of the spring scale. A small known mass was hung
directly from the spring scale and then over two pulleys before connecting to the scale to
compare. This showed no noticeable loss of weight when hung from only the scale, however, a
slight loss was seen when the additional two pulleys were added. This suggests that the effect of
friction on the pulleys is more significant than that of the friction on the piston of the spring
scale. As such, this explains the huge difference between the experimental and theoretical values
of the correctional error vector, their respective percent ratio being 69%.
For the third part of the experiment static equilibrium was attempted to be achieved on an
inclined plane. The main sources of error primarily included those in the second part. However,
the effect of friction from the single pulley used played the most significant role in the error. The
effect of static friction between the string and the pulley would have compensated for the
difference between the theoretically and experimentally acquired values, this explains why the
experimental values were smaller than the theoretical values. The behavior of friction also
explains why static equilibrium would have appeared to have been achieved many times but

would have given way each time the cylinder was slightly shaken or disturbed; the max static
friction between two surfaces is greater than the kinetic friction between said surfaces.
In the end, with a 5% difference between experimental and theoretical results in part three using
one pulley versus a 31% difference using three pulleys in part two, it can be seen that the friction
on the pulleys is very significant. This significance would surely decrease as the forces acting
over the pulleys increase; however, for these small laboratory experiments it has been proven to
be very influential. As such, the experiment can be said to be a success for part three as the error
caused by friction was relatively small (5%), however, using more pulleys, part two was not a
success with the increased error (31%) caused by friction.

Conclusion
It was observed that the results of an experimentally achieved system in static equilibrium are
smaller than those of a theoretical system since many additional forces not considered in the
theoretical system occur in an experimental system, primarily frictional forces. Comparing the
acquired theoretical and experimental values, part two of the experiment can be considered as
successful as there was a relatively small percent difference (5%), while part 3 can be considered
as a failure as there was a relatively large percent difference (31%). As such, it can be said that
the experiment was partly successful.

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