Jacob Yambasu

Physics write up

=Title: Moving In Circles!

Criteria Assessed: DCP and CE

Aim: To Investigate the relationship between orbital period and ;

a. the radius of the circular orbit with a constant centripetal force
b. the centripetal force on the body for a constant orbital radius

Raw Data
Experiment A
Investigating the relationship between orbital period and the radius of the circular
orbit with a constant centripetal force

Mass Of Weight
50.0
/ g ± 0.1 g
Mass Of Rubber Bung
18.60
/ g ± 0.01 g
Radius Of Circular Orbit Time for 20 Revolutions/s ± 0.01s
/ cm ± 0.01cm
Length Increasing Length Decreasing
25.10 11.90 11.93
44.90 16.00 15.67
59.70 19.41 18.90
64.60 18.29 18.35
84.30 21.15 22.03

Observation
As the orbital radius increased the system in circular motion was going slower and
slower. Therefore, it became increasingly easier to count the number of revolutions as
well as stop the stop clock when all the 20 revolutions were made.
When rotating the system, it was difficult to keep the rotating system perfectly horizontal.
Also as the experiment progressed, the experimenters hand became tired making it
difficult to perform the rotation.

Experiment B
Investigating the relationship between orbital period and the centripetal force on the
body for a constant orbital radius

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Jacob Yambasu
Physics write up

Radius Of Circular Orbit

64.60
/ cm ± 0.01
Mass Of Rubber Bung
18.60
/ g ± 0.01 g
Mass Of Weight Time for 20 Revolutions
/ g ± 0.1 g Length Increasing Length Decreasing
50.0 18.29 18.33
70.0 15.97 15.88
100.0 13.47 13.44
130.0 11.78 11.87
140.0 11.47 11.69

Observation

As the weights were increased the system in circular motion was going faster and faster.
Therefore, it became increasingly difficult to count the number of revolutions as well as
stop the stop clock when all the 20 revolutions were made.

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 Jacob Yambasu
Physics write up

Processed Data in Tables

Experiment A :

Mass Of Load / g
50.0 Centripetal
± 0.1 g
Force 0.4905
/N
Mass Of Rubber Bung
18.60 ±0.001 N
/ g ± 0.01 g

Time for 20 Period ,

Revolutions/s ± 0.01s T
Radius /s
Radius Of
Of Average
Circular Relative
Circular Time For Period2 ∆Perod2
Orbit uncertainty
Orbit 20 , T2 , T2
/m in Period ,
/ cm Length Length Revolutions / s2 / ± s2
± 0.0005m T
± 0.05cm Increasing Decreasing /s ± 0.01s

25.10 0.2510 11.9 11.93 11.92 0.59575 0.000839 0.3549 0.0006

44.90 0.4490 16 15.67 15.84 0.79175 0.000632 0.6269 0.0008
59.70 0.5970 17.54 17.81 17.68 0.88375 0.000566 0.7810 0.0009
64.60 0.6460 18.29 18.35 18.32 0.91600 0.000546 0.8391 0.0009
84.30 0.8430 21.15 22.03 21.59 1.07950 0.000463 1.1653 0.001

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 Jacob Yambasu
Physics write up

Experiment B :

Radius Of Circular
Orbit 64.60
/ cm ± 0.05cm
Mass Of Rubber Bung
18.60
/ g ± 0.01 g

Time for 20
Revolutions/s
Mass Of ±0.01s
Centripetal Average Period , Relative
Mass Of Load Period-2 Uncertainty
Force Time For 20 T uncertainty
Weights / g / kg 1÷T in Period-2
/N Revolutions /s ± in Period ,
± 0.1 g ±0.0001 s-1
±0.001 N Length Length /s ± 0.01s 0.0005s T
kg
Increasin Reducin
g g

50.0 0.05 0.491 18.29 18.33 18.31 0.9155 0.000546 1.1931 0.001
70.0 0.07 0.687 15.97 15.88 15.93 0.7963 0.000628 1.577 0.002
100.0 0.1 0.981 13.47 13.44 13.46 0.6728 0.000743 2.209 0.003
130.0 0.13 1.275 11.78 11.87 11.83 0.5913 0.000846 2.861 0.005
140.0 0.14 1.373 11.47 11.69 11.58 0.5790 0.000864 2.983 0.005

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 Jacob Yambasu
Physics write up

Calculation of Results and Uncertainties For Processed Table of Results

• Radius of circular orbit in meters = Radius of circle orbit in centimeters ÷ 100

• ∆ Radius of circular orbit in meters = ∆ Radius of circle orbit in centimeters ÷ 100
= 0.05cm ÷ 100
= ± 0.0005 m

• Mass of weights in kilograms = Mass of load in grams ÷ 1000

• ∆Mass of weights in kilograms = ∆Mass of load in grams ÷ 1000
= 0.1g ÷ 1000
= ± 0.0001kg

Since the mass of the attached weight provides the centripetal force, the centripetal force is given by
• Centripetal Force , FC.P = Weight of attached weight on string
= Mass of weights in kilograms × g
= Mass of weights in kilograms × 9.81

• ∆ Centripetal Force , FC.P = ∆Mass of weights in kilograms × 9.81

= 0.0001kg × 9.81
= 0.00098 N
= ± 0.001 N

• Average Time For 20 Revolutions =

Time for 20 Revolutionslength increasing + Time for 20 Revolutionslength increasing
=
2
• ∆ Average Time For 20 Revolutions =
∆Time for 20 Revolutionslength increasing + ∆Time for 20 Revolutionslength increasing
=
2

Time for 20 Revolutionslength increasing

• Period , T =
20
∆Time for 20 Revolutionslength increasing
• ∆ Period , T =
20
0.01s
=
20
= ± 0.0005s

∆Period
• Relative Uncertainty in Period =
Period

• Period2, T2 = Period × Period

• ∆ Period2, T2 = Period2 × (Relative Uncertainty in Period + Relative Uncertainty in Period)

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 Jacob Yambasu
Physics write up

∆Period ∆Period
= Period2 × ( + )
Period Period
1
• Inverse Of Period, T2 =
Period 2
1
• ∆ Inverse Of Period, T2 = × (Relative Uncertainty in Period + Relative Uncertainty in Period)
Period 2
1 ∆Period ∆Period
= 2 × ( + )
Period Period Period

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 Jacob Yambasu
Physics write up

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Derivation of equation relating;
Centripetal force, mass in orbit, Orbital Radius, Orbital Period From Fundamentals

When rotating an object of mass, m in a horizontal circular motion with a orbital radius,
R at a velocity, V the centripetal force is given by ;
2
mv
F C.P
= 1
R

2π
But v = Rω and ω=
T
Where ω is the angular velocity and T is the orbital period
2πR
∴V =
T
2πR
Substituting V = in 1
T
2
 2πR 
F C .P
= m  ÷R
 T 

4mπ 2 R
∴ F C .P
=
T2
Hence, we can see that the centripetal force is inversely proportional to the square of the
orbital period
1
( F C.P ∞ 2 )
T
4mπ 2 R
Also T = 2

F C .P
Hence, the square of the orbital period is directly proportional the orbital radius
(T 2∞R )
Therefore to investigate these relationships the following graphs will be plotted;
a) Orbital radius against the square of the orbital period
1
www.sidney.k12.oh.us/schools/tenneb/Labs/CentripetalForce.pdf

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 Jacob Yambasu
Physics write up

b) Centripetal force against the square of the orbital period

Processed Results
Relationship between Period and Orbital Radius

F C .P
R =T × 2 Of the form y = mx + c
4mπ 2
Where
y = Square of Period, T 2
F C.P
m , gradient =
4 mπ 2
x = Orbital Radius, R
c=0
Graph of Square of Orbital Period against of Radius of Circular Orbit

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 Jacob Yambasu
Physics write up

0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

rclbt,/m
fC
adiusO
R 0.1

x
-0.05 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5 0.55 0.6 0.65 0.7 0.75 0.8 0.85 0.9 0.95 1 1.05 1.1 1.15
Square of Orbital Period, T2 / s2
To judge the success in the experiment, the centripetal force obtained
using the gradient of the graph will be compared with the centripetal
force calculated from the mass of the weight.

The gradient of the best fit line calculated using the graphing software.
The gradient was 0.7435 m s-2
Therefore as
F C.P
The gradient =
4mπ 2
F C .P= Gradient × 4mπ 2
But gradient = 0.7435 m T-2 mass m = 0.01860 kg
F C . P from gradient of graph == (0.7435) × 4(0.01860)π
2

F C . P from gradient of graph = 0.5460 N

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 Jacob Yambasu
Physics write up

and
F C . P from mass of weight = 9.81 × 0.05kg
= 0.4905 N

Hence percentage difference of derived centripetal force and actual measured centripetal force =

FC.P from mass of weight - FC.P from gradient of graph

= × 100
FC.P from mass of weight
0.4905 - 0.5460N
= × 100
0.4905
=11.3%

Comment On Graph and Results

1. The line of best fit almost past through the origin as it was displaced
downwards from the origin by only 0.003 units. This could be due to a
systematic error. Also, the centripetal force derived from the gradient of the
graph varied from the actual centripetal force provided by the weights by
11.3% which is fairly accurate. Hence, with minimal error, the graph shows
that the square of the orbital period is directly proportional to the radius of
circular orbit as expected.
2. The range of coordinates were above and below the line of best fit indicating
that there was a variation of random errors in the coordinates.
3. The uncertainties from the apparatus were negligible as the error bars are not
even visible from the graph. Hence, the errors were mainly errors caused by
errors in the procedure.

Relationship between Period and Centripetal Force

1
F C . P = 4 mπ 2 R × , Of the form y = mx + c
T2
Where
y = Centripetal Force
m , gradient = 4mπ 2 R
1
x = Inverse Square of Period,
T2
c=0

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Jacob Yambasu
Physics write up

Graph of Centripetal Force Against the Inverse Square of the Orbital Period

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 Jacob Yambasu
Physics write up

y
1.4

1.2

0.8

0.6

entripalFoc/N 0.4
C

0.2

x
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2 2.2 2.4 2.6 2.8 3
Inverse Square of Orbital Period, T-2 /s-2

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Jacob Yambasu
Physics write up

To judge the success of the experiment, the mass of object obtained

using the gradient of the graph will be compared with the actual
measured mass of object ;

The gradient of the best fit line calculated using the graphing software.
The gradient was 0.4806 N s2
Therefore as
Gradient = 4mπ 2 R
Gradient
Mass, m =
4π 2 R
0.4806
Mass, m =
4π 2 (0.646)
Mass , m from gradient of graph = 0.0188
And
Mass, m from measured mass = 0.01860

Hence percentage different of Derived mass and actual measured mass =

FC.P from measured mass of weight - FC.P from gradient of graph

= × 100
FC.P from mass of weight
0.01860 - 0.0188
= × 100
0.01860
=1.075269%
=1.1%

Comment On Graph and Results

• The line of best fit past 0.0790 units below the origin. This could be due to a
systematic error from experimental procedures. Also, the mass of the object in
orbit derived from the gradient of the graph varied from the actual mass of the
object in orbit by 1.1=% which is very accurate. Hence, with minimal error, the
graph shows that the centripetal force is inversely proportional to the square of
the orbital period.
• The line past directly through the first 3 coordinates but past above and below
the last 2 coordinates. This shows that random errors were reduced when the
centripetal force is lower as seen from the first 3 coordinates and the random
error was increased when the centripetal force is higher as evident from the last
2 coordinates.
• The uncertainties from the apparatus were negligible as the error bars are not
even visible from the graph. Hence, the errors were mainly errors causes by
errors in the procedure

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Jacob Yambasu
Physics write up

Conclusion

The findings of the experiment were as follows;

a) The relationship between the orbital period and the centripetal force is that the square
1
of the orbital period is inversely proportional to the centripetal force ( T 2 ∞ )
F C .P
as a straight line passing close to the origin was observed when F C . P was plotted
1
against 2 .
T
b) The relationship between the orbital period and the radius of the circular orbits is that
the square of the orbital period is directly proportional to the radius of the circular
orbit (T 2 ∞R ) as a straight line passing through the origin was observed when R
was plotted against T 2 .

These relationships are valid as they correctly relate to the known equation relating these
physical quantities as shown below;
4mπ 2 R
F C.P
=
T2
Possible sources of weakness and error in experiment

1.
a. The experimenter might have applied some amount of force to the rotating
system thereby by adding on to the weights to produce the centripetal
force. This may have caused a small error in the experiment.
b. The rotating system was difficult to keep horizontal. Hence, at certain
times during the experiment the rotating system was not rotating in a
circular plane but was rotating in a conical motion. Hence, this could have
lead to a systematic error.
2. As the experiment progressed, the experimenters hand became more tired and
hence could not rotate the rotating system well.
3. As seen from the experiment B, when the weights became too heavy, timing the
revolutions became difficult and thereby increased the degree of error in the time
and the final results.
Similarly in experiment A, timing the revolutions became difficult when the
orbital radius became too short and thereby increased the degree of error in the
time and the final results.( although it was not clearly evident from the graph that
these errors were significant). Also when the orbital radius became too long, it
became difficult too perform the horizontal circular rotation.

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Jacob Yambasu
Physics write up

Improvements to Experimental Design and Procedures

1.
a. For perfect horizontal circular motion, a machine can be used to replace
the human experimenter. An example of one such machine is shown below
;
2

b. If no other improved apparatus for the rotating system is available, an

extended portion of time should be allocated (example 30 minutes) to
mastering the circular rotation so that during the actual experiment the
rotating system will remain horizontal and thereby reduces systematic
error of poor performance by the experimenter.

2. To avoid poor rotating of the rotating system caused by experimenters hand

becoming tired, after every measurement the partners should switch roles (i.e.
the roles of timing the revolutions and rotating the rotating system).

3.

2
www.sidney.k12.oh.us/schools/tenneb/Labs/CentripetalForce.pdf

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Jacob Yambasu
Physics write up

a. The mass of the weight should be 100 grams or less. This would
ensure that the rotating system rotates at a reasonable velocity that will
enable the timing of the revolutions with minimal error.
Also the range of measurements for the orbital radius should be
between 30cm and 70 cm as this would reduce the errors of the orbital
radius being too long (leading to difficulty in rotation) and of the
orbital radius being too short (leading to difficulty in timing).
b. Alternatively, a data logging apparatus can be used to record the time
for the revolutions. This would improve the accuracy as it removes the
error of the slow reaction time of the experimenter in stopping the stop
clock.

References
www.sidney.k12.oh.us/schools/tenneb/Labs/CentripetalForce.pdf

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