ANALYSIS

Newton’s second law of motion states that a net force is required for a body
to have acceleration. If a net force is applied on a body, the body will accelerate in
the direction of the net force. Newton's second law of motion pertains to the
behavior of objects for which all existing forces are not balanced. The acceleration
of the body is also directly proportional to the net force but inversely proportional
to its mass. As the force acting upon an object is increased, the acceleration of the
object is increased. As the mass of an object is increased, the acceleration of the
object is decreased.

In this experiment, we verified the relationships between a body’s

acceleration and net force, and between acceleration and mass. The objective of
this experiment are: (a) To verify the direct proportionality of acceleration and net
force if the mass of the body is constants, and (b) To verify the inverse
proportionality of acceleration and mass if the net force is constant.

Photogate1 Photogate2
a

m1 T
Cart

DYNAMICS TRACK

a
m2

(Figure 1: Experiment 104: Newton’s Second Law of Motion)

m2 g
 Newton defined momentum P as the product of mass and velocity. The
change in momentum ∆ P is brought about by the impulse ( J =F net ∆ t) acting on the
body.

F net ∆ t=∆ P

(Equation 1: Momentum)

As ∆ t approaches zero, the instantaneous rate of change of momentum is

∆ P dP d (mv)
F net= lim = =
∆t→0 ∆ t dt dt

(Equation 2: Instantaneous Rate of Change of Momentum)

Since for most object, mass is constant

dv
F net=m
dt

(Equation 3: Net Force with Constant Mass)

Newton`s second law of motion is mathematically expressed as

F net=ma

(Equation 4: Net Force)

The cart mass m1 is accelerating due to the tension T. from newton`s second
law

T =m 1 a

(Equation 5: Tension)

The hanging mass m2 is also accelerating with the same acceleration due to
the net force m2 a on it.
m2 a=m 2 g−t

T =m 2 g−m2 a

Equating the tension

m1 a=m2 g−m2 a

m 1 a+m 2 a=m 2 g

( m1 +m2 ) a=m2 g

m2 g
a=
m1 +m 2

(Equation 6: Formula of Acceleration Related to Tension)

This acceleration is the same acceleration described in the kinematics

equation.

2s
a=
t2

(Equation 7: Acceleration described by Kinematics)

For a body starting from rest,

s = distance travelled by the cart.

t = the time of travel by the cart.

The Experiment 104: Newton’s Second Law of Motion have the

following objectives: [1] To verify the direct proportionality of acceleration and
net force if the mass of the body is constants, and [2] To verify the inverse
proportionality of acceleration and mass if the net force is constant. This
experiment has three parts: (a) Constant Mass, Changing Net Force, (b) Changing
Mass, Constant Net Force, and (c) Changing Mass, Changing Net Force.

The materials used in this experiment are dynamic track with pulley,
dynamics cart, string, 2 photogates, a smart timer, set of weights, and a weight
hanger.

(Figure 2: Materials for Experiment 104 ‘Newton’s Second Law of Motion’)

In Part A: Constant Mass, Changing Net Force, our group followed 13

procedures:
1. Place the dynamics track on the table. Make sure that it is horizontal by
placing the dynamics cart on the track. If the dynamics cart does not move,
then the track is already horizontal. Otherwise, make the necessary
adjustments.
2. Get the mass of the dynamics cart. Write this under m1 in Table 1.

3. Set the first photogate at the 20cm mark of the dynamics track and the
second photogate at the 70cm track. This is the distance in which the cart
can travel. Write this under s in table 1.
4. Plug the first photogate to the number 1 slot of the smart timer and the
second photogate to the number 2 slot. Ask for help from your instructor if
you have difficulty in setting up the photogates and the smart timer.
5. Set the timer by pressing the “Select Measurement” button until it shows
“Time:”. Set the mode by pressing the “Select Mode” button until it shows
“Time: Two Gates”.

6. Tie one end of the string to the cart and the other end to the weight hanger.
Set the dynamics cart on one end of the track and the weight hanger over the
pulley.
7. For the first trial, use a total mass of 20g for the hanging weight. Write this
under m2 in Table 1.

8. Release the cart. Read time of travel from the smart timer. Write the time of
travel under t in Table 1.

9. Repeat procedures 1-8 using masses of 40g, 60g, 80g, and 100g. Write the
data in appropriate spaces in Table 1.
10. Compute the accepted value of the acceleration using Equation 6.
11. Compute the experimental value of the acceleration using Equation 7.
 1.8 12. Compu
1.6
te the
1.4

1.2
Acceleration

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0.2 0.39 0.59 0.78 0.98
Net Force

Percentage Error for Each Trial.

13. From your data draw the acceleration (experimental value) vs. net force
graph.

The graph shows

that, as the net
force increases, the
value of the
acceleration also
increases. The
acceleration of the
cart is directly
proportional to the
 Trial Total Net Acceleration Time of Acceleration %
hanging force (accepted travel (experimenta Error
mass [N] value) (t) l value) [%]
[kg] [m/s 2] [s] [m¿ ¿ s2 ]¿
1 0.020 0.196 0.3740 1.4479 0.4770 27.51
2 0.040 0.392 0.7205 0.8564 1.3840 92.06
3 0.060 0.588 1.0212 0.7199 1.9295 88.93
4 0.080 0.784 1.3900 0.6639 2.2687 63.20
5 0.10 0.980 1.6225 0.6259 2.5526 57.24
(Table 1: Constant Mass, Changing Net Force)

In Trial 1 we get an acceleration(accepted value) of 0.3740m/ s2, net force of

0.196N and an acceleration(experimental value) of 0.4770m/ s2 , in Trial 2 we get
an acceleration(accepted value) of 0.7205m/ s2, net force of 0.392N and an
acceleration(experimental) 1.3840m/ s2, in Trial 3 we get an acceleration(accepted
value) 1.0212m/ s2, net force 0.588N and an acceleration(experimental value)
1.9295m/ s2, in Trial 4 we get an acceleration(accepted value) 1.3900m/ s2, net force
of 0.784N and an acceleration(experimental value) 2.2687m/ s2 and in Trial 5 we
get an acceleration(accepted value) 1.6225/ s2, net force of 0.980N and an
acceleration(experimental) 2.5526/ s2.

This data tells us that if the weight of the dynamics cart is increases the
acceleration also increases because they are directly proportional to each other.
The total hanging weight and the acceleration of the cart and are in direct
proportion. Total hanging weight is the net force applied to an object with a mass
will make object to accelerate. The Newton second law states that net force is
equal to the product of mass and acceleration.

In Part B: Changing Mass, Constant Net Force, our group followed 8

procedures.

1. Repeat Part A using a mass of 100g for the hanging weight. Write this under
m 2 in Table 2.

2. For the first trial, get the mass of the cart and write this under total mass of
cartm1.
3. Release the cart. Read the time of travel from the smart timer. Write the time
of travel under t in Table 1.

4. For trials 2-5, add masses of 100g, 200g, 300g, and 400g to the cart and
write this under total mass of cartm1.

5. Compute the accepted value of the acceleration using Equation 6.

6. Compute the experimental value of the acceleration using Equation 7.
7. Compute the percentage error for each trial.
8. From your data draw the acceleration (experimental value) vs. mass graph.
Trial Mass of Cart Acceleration Time of Acceleration % Error
+ Mass (accepted travel (experimental [%]
added (m1 ¿ value) (t) value)
2 2
[kg] [m/s ] [s] [m¿ ¿ s ]¿
1 0.504 4.9 0.5738 3.03 38.16
2 0.604 5.3422 0.6611 2.2880 57.17
3 0.704 5.7112 0.6992 2.0454 64.18
4 0.804 6.0238 0.7121 1.9720 67.26
5 0.904 6.29 0.7592 1.7349 72.41
(Table 2: Changing Mass, Constant Net Force)

In Trial 1 we get an acceleration(accepted value) 4.9m/s 2 and

acceleration(experimental value) 3.03m/s 2, in Trial 2 we get an
acceleration(accepted value) 5.3422m/s 2 and acceleration(experimental value)
2.2880m/s 2, in Trial 3 we get an acceleration(accepted value) 5.7112m/s 2 and an
acceleration(experimental value) 2.0454m/s 2, in Trial 4 we get an
acceleration(accepted) 6.0238m/s 2 and an acceleration(experimental) 1.9720m/s 2
and the last trial, Trial 5 we get an acceleration(accepted) 6.29m/s 2 and an
acceleration(experimental) 1.7349m/s 2.
 Acceleration is indirectly proportional the total mass. Increasing mass with
constant net force will make an object to decelerate. A body with greater mass
needs grater amount of net force to accelerate as stated on the Newton's second law
of motion.

The percentage error on this part ranges from 0% to 90%. The possible
sources of error in this experiment are dynamic track angle and condition, accuracy
of the distance of the photogates, initial velocity at the time it passed the photogate
1, smart timer error or misreading and human factor. Newton`s second law of
motion pertains to the behavior of the object for which all existing force are not
balanced. The second law states that the acceleration of an object is dependent
upon to variables.

In Part C: Changing Mass, Changing Net Force, our group followed only
2 procedures. It’s just the repetition of Part A but each trial has a different mass.

1. Repeat Part A changing the mass of the cart and the hanging weight for each
trial.
2. Using the following masses for each trial:

TRIAL m1 m2
1 Mass of cart 20g
2 Mass of cart+100g 40g
3 Mass of cart+200g 60g
4 Mass of cart+300g 80g
5 Mass of cart+400g 100g
Trial Mass of Total Net Acceleration Time of Acceler %
cart+Ma Hangin Force (accepted travel ation Error
ss of g Mass ( m2 g ) value) (t) (experi [%]
added, (m2) [N] [m/s 2 ¿ ¿ [s] mental
(m1) [kg] value)
[kg] [m/s 2]
1 0.504 0.02 0.196 4.9 1.186 0.7099 85.51
2 0.604 0.04 0.392 5.3422 0.952 1.1033 79.34
3 0.704 0.06 0.588 5.7112 0.9178 1.1871 79.21
4 0.804 0.08 0.784 6.0238 0.8213 1.4825 75.38
5 0.904 0.10 0.980 6.29 0.7697 1.6879 73.16
(Table 3: Changing Mass, Changing Net Force)

In Trial 1 we get an net force of 0.196N, acceleration(accepted value) 4.9

m/s 2and an acceleration(experimental value) 0.70m/s 2, in Trial 2 we get an net

force of 0.392N, acceleration(accepted value) 5.3422m/s 2 and an

acceleration(experimental value) 1.1033m/s 2, in Trial 3 we get an net force of
0.588 N, acceleration(accepted) 5.7112m/s 2 and an acceleration(experimental)
1.1871m/s 2, in Trial 4 we get an net force of 0.784N, acceleration(accepted)
6.0238m/s 2 and an acceleration(experimental) 1.4825m/s 2and in the last trial we get
an net force of 0.980N, acceleration(accepted) 6.29m/s 2 and an
acceleration(experimental) 1.6879m/s 2. In this data we observe that the weight of
the cart can affect the acceleration. As the weight of the cart increases the
acceleration also increases this means they are proportional to each other.

CONCLUSION

The Experiment 104 Newton’s Second Law of Motion has the following
objectives: (a) to verify the direct proportionality of acceleration and net force if
the mass of the body is constant; and (b) to verify the inverse proportionality of
acceleration and mass if the net force is constant.
 From Part A of the Experiment which is observing the acceleration of the
cart, having Constants Mass, and a Changing Net Force. We observed that as we
increase the force given to the cart, the acceleration of the cart also increases. This
means that the acceleration and the net force are directly proportional to each
other.

From Part B of the Experiment, this is observing the carts acceleration,

having a Changing Mass, and a Constant Net Force. We observed that the cart
starts to decelerate, when we added more mass. This Acceleration is indirectly
proportional to the total mass. Increasing mass with constant net force will make
an object to decelerate. A body with greater mass needs grater amount of net force
to accelerate as stated on the Newton's second law of motion.

Lastly Part C, this is observing the carts acceleration, changing its mass and
the net force simultaneously. We observed that the weight of the cart can affect the
acceleration. As the weight of the cart increases the acceleration also increases this
means they are proportional to each other.

With the help of the experiment, I concluded that: (a) we’ve verified the
direct proportionality of acceleration and net force having a constant mass of a
body; and (b) We’ve verified the inverse proportionality of acceleration and mass
having a constant net force.