FIE- School of Engineering

Taylor’s University

Physics Lab Report 4

CIRCULAR MOTION

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Taylor’s University

Content
Abstract -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------​3

1.0 Introduction---------------------------------------------------------------------------------​3-4

2.0 Experimental Design ----------------------------------------------------------------------​5-7

2.1​ Materials --------------------------------------------------------------------------------​6

2.2​ Methods ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------​6

2.3​ Procedure -------------------------------------------------------------------------------​6-7

3.0 Results & Discussion ----------------------------------------------------------------------​8-10

3.1​ Results ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------​8

3.2​ Discussion ------------------------------------------------------------------------------​9-10

4.0 Conclusion & Recommendation ---------------------------------------------------------​11

Reference -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------​12

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Abstract
This experiment was carried out to understand the relationship between the radius of the circular
path and the centripetal force acting upon the mass. This was done by determining the mass of a
rubber stopper by swinging a rubber stopper attached to a string in a circular motion at an
assumed constant velocity above head level while another person uses a stopwatch to measure
the time required to accomplish 10 revolutions. The experiment is performed thrice for every one
of the string lengths which were 15 cm, 30 cm, 45 cm and 60 cm. Then the average times needed
to perform 1 revolution were calculated to have the values of 0.343 s, 0.420 s, 0.453 s and 0.566
s respectfully. Next, a graph of F​cp T 2 against​ r​ is plotted which determines the experimental
mass of the rubber stopper which is g by and the actual mass of the rubber stopper which is g.

1.0 Introduction
This experiment is to examine how the radius of the circular motion affect the centripetal
force acting on the mass. Centripetal force is a net force that acts on an object to keep it moving
along a circular path. Centripetal force is not a fundamental force, but just a label given to the net
force which causes an object to move in circular path.[1] Therefore, this experiment was
conducted to understand circular motion and how Newton’s second law is applied. In order to
determine how the radius of the circular motion affect the centripetal force acting on the mass,
we determined the velocity and displacement of the mass that is undergoing circular motion. The
velocity and displacement of the mass that is undergoing circular motion and the centripetal
force were calculated and determined as below:

(a) Newton’s Second Law:

ΣF = ma = 0 = T − mH g …….(1)
Where Σ F ​represents the force, ​m​ represents the mass, ​a ​represents the acceleration, ​T
represents the tension in the spring, ​g​ represents the gravitational acceleration and mH
represents the hanging mass.

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(b) Centripetal force from Newton’s Second Law:
ms v 2
F ep = r = mH g ……(2)
Where F ep represents the centripetal force, ms represents the stopper mass, v
represents the velocity, ​r r​ epresents the radius of the circular path, mH represents the
hanging mass and ​g​ represents the gravitational acceleration.

(c) To determine the velocity of the mass that is undergoing circular motion, the basic
formula for velocity is used:
s
v = t
……(3)

Where ​v ​represents the velocity, ​s​ represents the displacement and ​t ​represents the time.

(d) Displacement, s is undergoing circular motion, assuming that the object is mobbing along
the circumference of the circle, we can modify the velocity formula into:
2πr
v = T
……(4)

Where ​v​ represents velocity, ​r​ represents radius of the circular path and ​T​ represents
tension in the string.

(e) Hence, substitute the velocity formula (4) into the centripetal force equation:
2
m( 2πr
T ) 4π 2 mr
F ep = r
= T2
……(5)

4π 2 mr
mH g = T2
……(6)

Where F ep represents the centripetal force, m represents the stopper mass, ​T​ represents
the tension in the spring, ​r ​represents the radius of the circular path, mH represents the
hanging mass and ​g​ represents the gravitational acceleration.

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2.0 Experimental Design

Top View

Side View

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2.1 Materials
1. Thread
2. Plastic tube
3. Rubber stopper
4. Weight cells and weight hanger(100 g)
5. Paper clips
6. Stopwatch
7. Electronic balance
8. Measuring tape

2.2 Methods
In this analysis, it is to analyze how the centripetal power is influenced by the sweep of the
radius of the circular motion. This strategy is to decide the speed of the mass that is experiencing
circular motion. Initially, we took distinctive estimations of strings and afterwards we quantified
the time taken for one swaying by taking the time taken for 20 motions at that point partitioning
it by time.

2.3 Procedure
1. The mass of rubber cork was measured.
2. The experiment was set up as shown in Figure 4.1.
3. The rubber cork was securely tied with one end of the thread.
4. The free end of the string was inserted through the plastic tube.
5. A 150g weigh cell was placed on the other end of the thread.
6. 15 cm of thread was measured from the plastic tube to the centre of mass of the rubber
stopper and marked with a marker as r.
7. A paper clip was placed at the bottom of the plastic tube such that the radius of rotation
stayed constant throughout the motion.

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8. The cylindrical load was slowly swirled and gradually accelerated in a circular motion while
the circular motion was maintained as close to the horizontal plane as possible.
9. Once the circular motion was steady, the time required to perform 10 revolutions was
measured.
10. The same measurement was repeated for another 2 times, and take the average reading.
11. The same experiment was repeated with the thread lengths of 30 cm, 45 cm and 60 cm.
12. The data was tabulated and analysed in Table 4.1 and Table 4.2.

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3.0 Results and Discussion

3.1 Results
Table 1: Radius of motion, total time to complete 10 revolutions and period of 1 revolutions.

Radius of Total time to complete 10 revolutions (s) Period, T

motion, r (s)
(m) 1 2 3 Average

0.15 3.62 3.07 3.62 3.43 0.343

0.30 4.34 4.06 3.62 4.20 0.420

0.45 4.85 4.65 4.10 4.53 0.453

0.60 5.28 5.75 5.94 5.66 0.566

Table 2: Radius of motion, period and F ep T 2 .

Radius of motion, r Period, T (s) F ep T 2 (N s2 )

(m)

0.15 0.343 0.196

0.30 0.420 0.391

0.45 0.453 0.587

0.60 0.566 0.782

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3.2 Discussion
1. Graph 1: F ep T 2 against radius of motion.

2. To determine the mass of the rubber stopper from chart, it very well may be figured
utilizing this formula beneath:
w
r = 4π 2 m

Where, w is force of the gravity on the hanging weight

The mass of the rubber stopper is

(33.02g ÷ 1000) × 9.81 m/s 2 = 0.32639262N

0.32639262
0.391 = 4π 2 m
(0.391)(0.32639262)
m = 4π 2
= 3.23 × 10 −3 kg
3. The difference of experimental mass of rubber stopper with the actual mass of the rubber
stopper can be known by the formula below :

Dif f erence = ||
experimental − actual |
actual | × 100%
The difference is :

Dif f erence = || 33.023.23×10

− 3.23×10 −3 |
−3 | × 100%
The reason for the difference is :

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The erosion between the string and the plastic tube will reduce the speed of the
circular movement and expands the time taken for 20 oscillations. Subsequently, the test
result is somewhat not the same as real outcome.

4. 3 conceivable elements that could influence the exploratory estimation of the mass of the
elastic plug is :

● Human response time is the main factor that influenced the utilization of
stopwatch which will be vulnerable. The human response time is around 0.6
seconds. Henceforth, the time taken for 20 motions won't be precise.

● The manual control of the swing by human can influence the outcome as the
swinging-power may not the significant every wavering and furthermore each
time the analysis lead with various length of the string.

● Human blunder is the third factor which influenced the exploratory esteem. The
estimation for 20 oscillations probably won't be exact on the grounds that each
event is swung quickly which is an average of 0.35 seconds. This may influence
the outcome for each event and time taken.

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CONCLUSION:
In conclusion, the primary purpose of the experiment was to investigate the effect of the radius
of the circular motion on the centripetal force acting on the mass. Our records for this experiment
were correct. The radius of the circular motion does affect the centripetal force acting on the
mass because the force gets larger when the radius increases.
When we are increasing( r) while keeping the ( ω) constant, we are increasing the speed
because the length of the path around the circle is getting bigger.

Besides, there were some human errors reduced the condition and quality of this experiment.
Firstly, the pipe was sliding up and down the string while the rubber stopper was in motion. To
minimize this error, the person who holds the pipe had to ensure that he had a good grip on the
tube, so it is not moving up and down. Secondly, the reaction time we took to stop the timer as
the circular motion done with a specific number of rounds. This error could be reduced by
having more than one person responsible for the timing. Finally, the human error of counting the
number of revolution. Because the rubber motion was so fast and it was hard to count the number
of rounds.

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REFERENCES
[1] ​Khan Academy. ​What is a centripetal force?​ Centripetal forces.​ [Online] Khan Academy,
2015. [Cited: October 29, 2018]
https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/centripetal-force-and-gravitation/centripetal-force
s/a/what-is-centripetal-force

[2] ​Physics Classroom. ​Newton's Second Law. ​Newton's Laws - Lesson 3 - Newton's Second
Law of Motion. [​ Online] the Physics Classroom. [Cited: October 29, 2018]
https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/newtlaws/Lesson-3/Newton-s-Second-Law

[3] ​Horwat, J​. (2014). ​Lab: Circular motion.​ Retrieved from:

https://sites.google.com/site/apphysics1online/circular-motion-gravitation/2-ucm

[4]Stony Brook University. (2016, June 30). ​PHY 133 Lab 5 - Centripetal Motion​. Retrieved
from: ​http://skipper.physics.sunysb.edu/~physlab/doku.php?id=phy133:lab5centr_motion

[5] Calculating the circumference of a circle (2018, 28 October)

https://www.mathplanet.com/education/pre-algebra/more-about-equation-and-inequalities/calcul
ating-the-circumference-of-a-circle

[6] Mathematics of Circular Motion (2018, 28 October)

https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/circles/Lesson-1/Mathematics-of-Circular-Motion

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