Spinner Lab

AP Physics B Saurav Sumughan and Josh Du

𝑣2
Purpose: To verify the equality 𝑎c = 𝑟
with string, washer, tubes, and stoppers.

Procedure:

1. Obtain four washers; a hollow, cylindrical tube; and a string with a rubber stopper and a paperclip
tied to it.
2. Thread the string through the tube and attach four washers each to the string on the side with
the paperclip (figure i).
3. Let the paperclip side go until the stopper comes down and touches the tube (figure ii).
4. Pull the stopper to a measured distance from the closest side of the tube and pinch the string at
the other side of the tube to maintain this length.
5. Twirl the tube in a small circular path and make the stopper revolve around the tube at a constant
speed while keeping the center of the tube as stationary as possible.
6. Release the string completely and continue for a few seconds. Record the number of revolutions
and time for the revolutions (average over the interval).
7. Carefully put your finger over the side of the tube closest to the paperclip to prevent the string
from slipping. Compare the pre-experimental and post-experimental string length from the
stopper to the tube and ensure that there is no significant change in length. If the change is greater
than 2 cm, discard the trial.
8. Repeat steps 3-7 for the desired number of trials, changing the length from the stopper to the
tube for each trial.
Data:

Length vs. Revolutions over time

Length of String (m) Number of Revolutions Time (s)
0.22 19 9.69
0.31 10 6.12
0.41 8 5.48

Calculations:

Length vs. Period

Length (radius) 𝒓𝒆𝒗
(m) Frequency ( ) Angular Velocity (radians/sec) Tangential Velocity (m/s)
𝒔
𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠
𝑓 = 𝜔 = 2𝜋 ∗ 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 𝑣 = 𝑟 ∗ 𝜔
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
0.22 19/9.69 = 1.96 2π * 1.96 = 12.3 0.22 * 12.3 = 2.72
0.31 10/6.12 = 1.63 2π * 1.63 = 10.2 0.31* 10.2 = 3.16
0.41 8/5.48 = 1.46 2π * 1.46 = 9.17 0.41 * 9.17 = 3.76

ac (m/s2)
𝑣2
ac = 𝑟
2.72^2/0.22 = 33.4
3.16^2/0.31 = 32.7
3.76^2/0.41 = 34.5

Radius vs. Tangential Speed

12

10
Tangential Speed (m/s)

8
𝑣̂ = 1.86708 ∗ 5.50015𝑟
6

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2
Radius (m)
Conclusion:
𝑣2
After this experiment, we could prove that the equality of 𝑎c = 𝑟
is true. The centripetal force
is equal to the sum of the weight of the washers, frictional force between the tube and the string, and air
resistance. Since the centripetal force is about the same across all the trials, the 𝑎c value is also about the
𝑣2
same across all the trials. After the above equation is rearranged, you are left with 𝑟 = 𝑎 , and since 𝑎c
c
can be dealt with as a constant, this form reveals that the radius of the path of the stopper varies inversely
as the square of the tangential velocity of the stopper. As a result, when a graph is made comparing the
values of these two variables, there should be a clear exponential growth curve associated with this
relationship, as is the case in the graph from our data.

Though an effort was made to prevent human error, it is nearly impossible for a human to swing
the stopper at the same angle from the vertical across trials. As a result, the 𝑎c values show variation
because the radius of the true circular horizontal path is impacted by the angle of the string from the
vertical. For example, if two trials had different angles, the one with the greater angle would result with
a calculated 𝑎c greater than that of the one with a lesser angle. As a result, if the stopper were swung
with the bases of the tube perpendicular to the ground, there would be less of a concern about the angle
of the stopper’s path since its path would be near perpendicular to the bases of the tube at all times.