link to jdenuno.com

Physics Home

Title: Net Force

Purpose:

  • To practice determining the net force acting on objects.
  • To practice calculating velocity and acceleration.
  • To practice constructing position vs time and velocity vs time graphs.

Website: http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/newtlaws/U2L2d.html

Materials:

Procedure:

  • Identify whether or not there is a net force on cars 1, 2, and 3.
  • Use the centimeter ruler to determine if velocity is constant.
    • consider that the intervals between dots is 1 second.
    • measure the distance between dots.
    • measure to 2 decimal places!
  • Calculate velocity and acceleration for each car!
  • Construct a position vs time graph for each car.
  • Construct a velocity vs time graph for each car.
  • Go to http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/newtlaws/U2L2d.html to check your answers about net force!
    (you need to scroll to the bottom of the page...but you can read the information about forces as well!)
car 1
 

 
car 2

 
 car 3
 

 
 

Results: These will be your data charts and graphs. (you may construct your graph by hand or use Excel)

Construct a data chart similar to the one below for each car!

Car #___________
Time
(s)
Distance
(cm)
Velocity
(cm/s)

Acceleration
(v/s)
1
.
.
2
.
  
.
3
.
  
.
4
.
  
.
5
.
  
.
6
.
  
.
7
.
  
.
8
.
  
.
9
.
  
.
10
.
  
.
11
.
  
.
12
      
13
      
14
      
15
      
       
* remember units

 

Discussion:

  • Summarize what you did.
  • Comment on the difficulties of measuring distance.
  • Indicate which cars showed constant velocity and which showed acceleration.
  • Indicate which cars showed a net force.
  • Indicate whether or not you correctly identified the cars which were acted upon by a net force.
  • Comment on sources of error.
  • Suggest improvements.

Conclusion: (not required)

Reflection: (personal commentary on what you learned from the activity and/or its application to real life)
 

Animated Graphics Courtesy of
Jo's World

link to jdenuno.com