PASCO ME-9502 Statics System - Manual (Page 21)

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M o d e l N o . M E - 9 5 0 2 E x p . 3 : R e s o l v i n g F o r c e s — C o m p o n e n t s
0 1 2 - 1 2 8 7 6 B 17
Exp. 3: Resolving Forces—Components
Equipment Needed
Theory
In experiment 2, you added concurrent forces vectorially to determine the magnitude and direction of the com-
bined forces. In this experiment, you will do the reverse: you will find two forces which, when added together,
have the same magnitude and direction as the original force. As you will see, any force vector in the X-Y plane can
be expressed as a vector in the x-direction and a vector in the y-direction.
Setup
Set up the equipment as shown in the figure. As
shown, create a force vector F by hanging a
mass, M
1
, on a thread from the force disk in the
center of the Force Wheel over a pulley.
Set up the Spring Scale and a pulley so that the
thread from the Spring Scale is horizontal from
the bottom of the pulley to the force disk. Hang a
second mass hanger directly from the force disk
in the center of the Force Wheel.
Now pull the Spring Scale toward or away from
the pulley to adjust the horizontal or x-compo-
nent of the force, F
x
. Adjust the amount of mass
on the vertical mass hanger, M
2
, to adjust the ver-
tical or y-component of the force, F
y
. Adjust the
x- and y-components in this way until the force
disk is centered in the Force Wheel.
Note: These x- and y-components are actually
the x- and y-components of the equilibriant, F
E
,
of the force F, rather than the components of F
itself.
Procedure 1
1. Calculate and record the magnitude of F (based on F = mg). Use the Force Wheel to measure the angle of F
and then record the angle.
• Magnitude, F = _________________ Angle,
 = ____________________
2. Record the magnitude of the x-component of the equilibriant of F and calculate and record the y-component
of the equilibriant of F.
• X-component = _________________ Y-component = ____________________
Item Item
Statics Board Mounted Spring Scale
Force Wheel Pulleys (2)
Mass and Hanger Set Thread
M
1
M
2
M
1
F
-F
x
-F
y
Spring
Scale
Pulley
Pulley
Force
Wheel
Force
disk
Figure 3.1: Setup