Physics

Goal and Procedure:
The goal of this lab was to measure and calculate the centripetal force by looking at the acceleration and velocity of an object. As an object moves in a circle, it is constantly accelerating. This lab’s main goal was to show that if an objects direction of motion is always changing then that means that the direction of the velocity is always changing as well. This is what causes the object to be constantly accelerating. The centripetal acceleration also played a part in calculating centripetal force; the centripetal acceleration is the component of the acceleration that changes the direction of motion points toward the center of the circle.
Procedure:
  1. Set up the equipment.
      a. Attach the force probe to the stationary pole on the table.
      b. Hook the force probe up to the logger pro.
      c. Hook the logger pro up to the computer.
      d. Attach the pendulum bob to a string.
      e. Calibrate the force probe.
      f. Place the string on the S-hook of the force probe.
  2. Weight the pendulum bob and record the value in the data table.
  3. Calculate the Weight of the pendulum bob and record the value in the data table.
  4. Choose an initial height and record the value in the data table.
  5. Measure the final height and record the value in the data table.
  6. Measure the radius of the pendulum and record the value in the data table.
  7. Pull the pendulum bob to the desired initial height.
  8. Begin data collection on the computer program.
  9. Release the pendulum bob to swing freely.
  10. Allow the pendulum bob time to swing back and forth in order for the computer to collect enough data.
  11. Stop data collection.
  12. Specify the point on the graph of force versus time the maximum tension point and record the value in the data table.
  13. Calculate and record the change in height.
  14. Calculate and record the velocity.
  15. Calculate and record the centripetal acceleration....