PASCO ME-8950A COMPLETE ROTATIONAL SYSTEM - Manual (Page 27)

012-05293F Complete Rotational System
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Analysis
1. The weight of the mass hanging over the pulley is equal to the centripetal force applied by the
spring. Calculate this force by multiplying the mass hung over the pulley by “g” and record the
result at the top of Table 3.5.
2. Calculate the centripetal force for each trial using:
and record this in Table 3.5.
3. Calculate the percent difference between the calculated centripetal force for each trial and mg.
Record in Table 3.5.
Questions
1. When the radius is increased, does the period of rotation increase or decrease?
2. When the radius and the mass of the rotating object are held constant, does increasing the period
increase or decrease the centripetal force?
3. As the mass of the object is increased, does the centripetal force increase or decrease?
F
4 π
2
mr
T
2
---------------- =
Calculated
Centripetal Force
Period (T)
Mass hanging over pulley =
Centripetal Force = mg =
Radius =
Mass of Object % Difference
Table 3.5: Varying the Mass of the Object