Inclinepulley System

Experiment 4: Newton’s 2nd Law - Incline Plane and Pulley
In this lab we will further investigate Newton’s 2nd law of motion by using an incline-pulley system.
The incline-pulley system, shown in Figure 1, can be classified as a simple machine, that is, one of the
classic elementary devices that more complicated and advanced machines are built around. As shown in
Figure 1, the acceleration of the mass along the inclined plane (M1 ) can be controlled by using a hanging
counterweight (M2 ) over the pulley and/or varying the angle of the incline. The free body diagrams for the
two masses are shown in Figure 2. We will use the airtrack to create a frictionless plane and also assume
that the pulley is frictionless with uniform tension in the string. With these assumptions,
P the acceleration
of the two masses are the same (a1,x = a2,y ). Applying Newton’s second law, F = ma, to the freebody
diagram, we can write a system of equations describing the motion of the two masses (T is the tension in
the string):
m1 a = T − m1 gsinθ (1)
m2 a = m2 g − T (2)
Solving these equations for the acceleration:
(M2 − M1 sin(θ))g
a= (3)
M1 + M2
M1
M2
Figure 1: A mass M1 slides along a frictionless incline of angle θ with a counterweight M2 passing over a
pulley.
1
a1,x
a2,y T
N T
y x
W1 = m1g W2 = m2g
Figure 2: Freebody diagram for the two masses.
Experimental Objectives
The objective of the lab is to experimentally test the theoretical acceleration (Eq. 3) and to study the
relationship between mass and acceleration using a simple machine. In this lab, M1 will be a glider cart
whose velocity can be measured using a photogate, similar to the previous lab. The acceleration of the
cart can be determined from the velocity by using kinematic equations of motion. Thus, you can obtain
the acceleration of the cart using the computer software and then compare it with theoretical calculations
of Equation 3.
• Devise an experimental procedure to test the theoretical acceleration (Equation 3) of the incline-
pulley system. Remember to record all of your variables thoroughly and each of your measurements
should be performed several times to minimize any errors. Compare your measurements with the
theoretical calculations.
• Devise an experiment that could verify the inverse proportionality of the acceleration and the mass.
Think of how you could achieve a consistent (not necessarily constant) applied force, independent of
the mass of the glider. You do not necessarily have to know the details of the force, just make sure
it is the same for all experiments.
A full lab report is not necessary for this lab. Answer the questions on the following page and turn it
in with your signed data sheet.
2
PHYS 123, Lab 4 Questions
Name: CWID:
Write your answers on a separate sheet and attach your signed data sheet when turning it in. You must
show all of your work for full credit. Make it clear to me you understand what you’re doing. Any graphs
or tables should be made via computer software and attached to this worksheet.
1. Answer the following questions using the data you acquired in this experiment:
(a) For the first experiment, create a data table for the different masses (M1 , M2 ), the incline
angles, the velocities and accelerations obtained from the computer software, and the theoretical
accelerations using Equation 3 of the lab manual.
(b) How do your measurements compare with the theoretical calculations? What are the sources of
error?
(c) Make a graph of experimental acceleration (aexp ) versus (M2 − M1 sin(θ))/(M1 + M2 ). Explain
the slope.
(d) Make a plot of your data that shows the inverse proportionality for the second experiment.
Briefly comment on the slope.
(e) Can friction truly be ignored in this experiment? Explain using your data.
2. Why is it important that the string connecting the masses be parallel with the air track?
3. In 1589 Galileo dropped two different masses from the Leaning Tower of Pisa and observed their
time of flights to be independent of mass. How does Galileo’s freefall experiment relate to the second
experiment if there was no applied force? How does the addition of an applied force change things?

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Experiment 4: Newton’s 2nd Law - Incline Plane and Pulley

Figure 2: Freebody diagram for the two masses.

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