Community College of Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Experiment Number: M-8

Title: Simple Machines and Work

Performed by: Zinoubia Hasasna

Physics course: Physics 140

Lab day: 3/12/2018

Lab Instructor: Wojciech Gontar

Date due: 3/19/2018

Purpose: The purpose of this experiment is to study various simple machines, to determine their
efficiencies and mechanical advantages, and to become more familiar with concept of work.

Procedure:

Part 1: Pulleys

1. We weighed pan and recorded its weight on the data sheet. And then we string together
two triples- pulley assemblies.
2. We attached the weight hanger to lower pulley assembly. Then we attached the weight
pan to the free end of the string.
3. Then we moved the weight pan downward through some convenient (100 cm) distance
Sin; measured the resulting distance Sout through which the weight hanger rises. Then we
calculated the IMA
4. Then we added weights to the pan until a condition is reached, whereby the pan
descended with a constant velocity after its string is given a slight downward tug. Then
we recorded the values of Fout and Fin in gwt.
5. Then we calculated the input work and output work using the values of Sin and Sout . then
we calculated the actual mechanical advantages and the efficiency.
6. Then we repeated step 4 and 5 four additional times for various amounts of weight added
to the weight hanger up to a maximum of about 1000 gwt.

Part 2: inclined Plane

1. Weighed the cart on the triple- beam balance. Then we placed the cart on the inclined
plane. Then we attached a string, run it over the pulley, and attached the weight pan.
Then we placed about 500 gwt of additional weight in the cart.
2. We set an angle of inclination 𝜃 of the plane 5°. Then we determined the amount of
weight which must be added to the weight pan to cause the pan to descend at a constant
velocity, after its string has been given a slight downward tug. Then we assume the input
distance (30 cm) and then we calculated the output distance. Then we calculated the input
work, the output work, thee IMA, the AMA, and the efficiency.
3. We repeated steps 2 and 3 for four additional angles of inclination ranging up to about
44°
Calculations:

1. Part 1: Pulleys
a. calculated Win , Wout, AMA, % Efficiency

Trail one:

Win = Fin Sin = 22.3* 100 =2230 gwt.cm

Wout = Fout Sout = 50* 15.8 = 790 gwt.cm

AMA= Fout / Fin= 50/22.3 = 2.24

𝑊𝑜𝑢𝑡 790
% Efficiency = × 100% = × 100% = 43.50%
𝑊𝑖𝑛 2230

Trail two:

Win = 42.3* 100 = 4230gwt.cm

Wout = 150*15.8 = 2370 gwt.cm

AMA= 150/42.3= 3.55

2370
% Efficiency = × 100% = 56.03%
4230

Trail three:

Win = 62.3* 100 = 6230 gwt.cm

Wout = 250*15.8 = 3950 gwt.cm

AMA= 250/62.3= 4.01

3950
% Efficiency = × 100% = 63.40%
6230

Trail four:

Win = 102.3* 100 = 10230gwt.cm

Wout = 450*15.8 = 7110 gwt.cm

AMA= 450/102.3= 4.40

 7110
%Efficiency = × 100% = 69.50%
10230

Trail five:

Win = 142.3* 100 = 14230 gwt.cm

Wout = 650*15.8 = 10270 gwt.cm

AMA= 650/142.3= 4.40

10270
% Efficiency = × 100% = 72.17%
14230

2. Part 2: inclined Plane

b. Calculated Sout , Win , Wout, IMA, AMA, % Efficiency
1. Sout = sin 𝜃 × 𝑆𝑖𝑛 = sin 5 *30 = 2.61cm
Win = Fin Sin = 111.9*30 = 3357 gwt.cm
Wout = Fout Sout = 846.9 * 2.61= 2210 gwt.cm
IMA = Sin /Sout = 30/2.61= 11.5
AMA= Fout / Fin= 846.9/111.9 = 7.57
𝑊𝑜𝑢𝑡 2210
% Efficiency = × 100% = × 100% = 65.8%
𝑊𝑖𝑛 3357

2. Sout = sin 10 *30 = 5.21 cm

Win = 181.9*30 = 5457 gwt.cm
Wout = 846.9 * 5.21= 4412 gwt.cm
IMA = 30/5.21= 5.76
AMA=846.9/181.9= 163
𝑊𝑜𝑢𝑡 4412
% Efficiency = × 100% = × 100% = 80.9%
𝑊𝑖𝑛 5457

3. Sout = sin 20 *30 = 10.3cm

Win = 331.9*30 = 9957 gwt.cm
Wout = 846.9 * 10.3= 8723 gwt.cm
IMA = 30/10.3= 2.91
AMA= 846.9/331.9 = 2.55
𝑊𝑜𝑢𝑡 8723
% Efficiency = × 100% = × 100% = 87.6%
𝑊𝑖𝑛 9957

4. Sout = sin 30 *30 = 15.0 cm

 Win = 491.9*30 = 14757 gwt.cm
Wout = 846.9 * 15.0= 12704 gwt.cm
IMA = 30/15.0 = 2
AMA= 846.9/621.9= 1.36
𝑊𝑜𝑢𝑡 12704
% Efficiency = × 100% = × 100% = 86.1%
𝑊𝑖𝑛 14757

5. Sout sin 44 *30 = 20.8cm

Win = 621.9*30 = 18657 gwt.cm
Wout = 846.9 * 20.8= 17616 gwt.cm
IMA = 30/20.8= 1.44
AMA= 846.9/621.9 = 1.36
17616
% Efficiency = × 100% = 94.4%
18657

Questions:

1. mgsin 𝜃 acts down the ramp

Fin - mgsin 𝜃 = 0 (since it is constant velocity)

Fin = mgsin 𝜃

F- mgcos 𝜃 = 0

F= mgcos 𝜃

𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒
sin 𝜃 = = ℎ/𝑙
𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ

𝑊𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝐹𝑔 ×𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑚𝑔×𝑙 1

Mechanical advantage = MA = = = = (here fg = mg and Fin=
𝑊𝑖𝑛 𝐹𝑖𝑛 ×𝑅𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑚𝑔 sin 𝜃 sin 𝜃

mgsin 𝜃)

This is true since the inclined plane is Frictionless. From the law of conservation of energy, the
potential energy is mgh = wh and the kinetic energy is 1/2 mv^2. Rules of vectors are not necessary
for energy conservation since energy is a scalar quantity. The kinetic energy due to its velocity =
potential energy in pushing it up the inclined plane.

2𝜋𝑅
2. 𝐼𝑀𝐴 = 𝑑

Also IMA= length / height= R/d

tan of angle of the screw = d/2𝜋R

3. Frist apply the energy equation

Energy input = Energy output

Fin * Sin = Fout*Sout

𝐹𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑆
= 𝑆 𝑖𝑛
𝐹𝑖𝑛 𝑜𝑢𝑡

Now apply the balance of moments. Since rotation speed is constant hence net torques will be zero
so we can apply balance of moments.

Fin *L1= Fout*L2

𝑆 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑆
Fin* sin𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 𝐹𝑜𝑢𝑡 ∗ sin 𝜃

𝐹𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑆
= 𝑆 𝑖𝑛
𝐹𝑖𝑛 𝑜𝑢𝑡

Yes. Hence the results of both methods are same. Hence we can say that moment balance is
consequence by the conservation of energy.

4. It is the mechanical advantage when the efficiency of the pulley system is 100%. It is a
constant for that system of pulleys. Therefore it is not affected by increasing or
decreasing the load. But actual mechanical advantage will be less than this ideal
mechanical advantage due to friction. In other words, the efficiency will be less than 100
%. If the efficiency is 80%, it implies 20% is wasted due to friction while lifting a load.
If we increase the load the friction also increases and hence the efficiency will decrease
with the load.
Analysis & Discussion of Results:

The purpose of this lab was to study a variety of simple machines to determine their efficiencies
and mechanical advantages and to become more familiar with the concept of work. The second
part of the experiment had sources of error: there was error in the weights pulling the cart when
they were released and let drop to move the cart some of the weights fell off as soon as the cart
hit the railing and changed the reading after because not as much weight was pulling it the
second time. There is also error in the pulley system in the pulley was not being factionless and
giving resistance to the string and cart being pulled. A third source of error is also in the pulley
system if the pulley is not perfectly horizontal to the string then we are only using some of the
tension of the string whereas if we take the perfectly horizontal pulley all the tension of the string
is added. A forth source of error was in the string itself in the initial position against the pulley
the string has no weight acting on the cart but as the string and weight fall the string adds weight
to the mass creating a source of uncertainty called error per unit length. This is accounted by
taking the mass of the string and finding out how much weight is added to the end length as it is
free falling. The weights themselves can be a source of error if the exact mass of the weights
isn’t recorded, another source of error is from the string itself when in the rest position at the top
of the pulley there is no mass added from the string but as the weights fall and pull the string
along the pulley the mass of the string is added to the weight causing error. This called mass per
unit length error. This lab demonstrated the efficiencies and mechanical advantages of simple
machines. It also helped me to become more familiar with the concept of work. I think this lab
was extremely useful in understanding the mechanics of work and its relationship to force and
distance.