Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Acceleration Worksheet

Overview

1. For each trial, calculate the difference between m1 and m2. Enter the result in the column labeled mdiff.
2. For each trial, calculate the total mass in grams. Enter the result in the column labeled mT. Note that for Part II, there is a column in the table for 1/mT.
3. Disconnect all sensors and choose New from the File menu. Plot a graph of acceleration vs. mdiff, using the Part I data. Based on your analysis of the graph, what is the relationship between the mass difference and the acceleration of an Atwood’s machine? NOTE When printing graphs, save the trees by selecting only the pages that you really want to print.
4. Similarly, plot a graph of acceleration vs. 1/mT, using the Part II data. Based on your analysis, what is the relationship between total mass and the acceleration of an Atwood’s machine?
5. Are your results consistent with the theoretical expression that you derived for the acceleration?
6. Use the slope of the graph in Part I, together with the total mass, mT to obtain the acceleration due to gravity, g. Also obtain g using the slope of the graph in Part II. How do your values compare with each other and with the "textbook value"? If there are differences, what factors do you think might be responsible?