MUF0121 Physics Unit 1
Lab Report 3
PHYSICS 1-1
Group Member : 1) Tan Ling Wen
2) Isabella
3) Kimberly Sim
4) Jac Sim
MUF0121 Physics Unit 1
Title : Trolley running along a level surface
Aim : To investigate the motion of the trolley running along a level surface using a
ticker-timer.
Apparatus : Ticker-timer, 500g weight, Styrofoam cushion, power pack, connecting leads,
metre ruler, trolley, wooden plank, AC supply
Theory : A ticker-timer connected to a low-voltage AC supply will vibrate up and down 50
times per second. When a paper tape is pulled through a ticker-timer containing
carbon paper, dots are made on the tape. The time interval between adjacent
dots will be 1/50s (0.02s). Such a device can be used to record motion. The further
apart the dots, the faster are the motion of the object connected to the tape.
Procedure : 1. Cut a one-meter long ticker tape and pass it through the ticker timer. Attach
the ticker tape to the trolley. The timer and the trolley should be properly
aligned and must be at the same level. The ticker tape should be parallel to the
tabletop.
2. Connect the trolley to a mass of 500 grams that passes over a pulley.
3. Gently release the trolley right after you switch on the ticker timer and catch
the cart before it hits the pulley.
4. Measure and record the distance between 6 consecutive dots.
5. Calculate the velocity for each interval and tabulate the results in a table.
Results :
Time Distance Velocity
(s) (m) (m/s)
0.05 0.029
0.29
0.15 0.061
0.61
0.25 0.108
1.08
0.35 0.145
1.45
0.45 0.186
1.86
0.55 0.228
2.28
MUF0121 Physics Unit 1
Chart Title
3
y = 4.02x + 0.0557
2.5
1.5
0.5
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
Trolley: Loaded weight:
F=ma mg-T=ma
=(0.6)(4.02) 0.5(9.8)-T=0.5(4.02)
=2.41N T=2.74N
Percentage of error= 100%
0.43
= 4.45 X 100%
= 9.663%
MUF0121 Physics Unit 1
Discussion :
1. Plot a velocity against time graph. Based on the shape of the graph, what
assumptions can be made about the motion of the trolley?
Based on the graph above, the trolley is accelerating constantly as the
gradient has a positive slope.
2. Calculate the gradient (acceleration) of the slope.
= 4.02 + 0.0557
= +
Gradient =
= 4.02 2
3. What is the tension on the string?
=
=
= (0.5 )(9.8 2 ) (0.5 )(4.02 2 )
= 2.74
4. What is the net force on the trolley?
= =
= (0.6 )(4.02 2 )
= 2.41
MUF0121 Physics Unit 1
Conclusion :
The velocity increase linearly with time and the acceleration is constant. There
is a slight different of the acceleration of the trolley compare to the accepted
value:
4.45m/s2-4.02m/s2=0.43m/s2
The acceleration depends on the force applied, acceleration is proportionality
to the applied force (Newtons second law).
Percentage of error= 100%
0.43
= 4.45 X 100%
= 9.663%
The higher the position of the object is, the more gravitational potential energy
they possess. As the object moves downward, the gravitational potential
energy will be converted to kinetic energy by time. As the law of conservation
of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only be
changed to another form. Therefore, by the time the object reaches the
ground (0 m above the ground), all the gravitational potential energy it
possesses will be converted to kinetic energy. Lastly, energy is conserved in
this experiment.