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You carried out an experiment to investigate the relationship between the acceleration of a body and the force applied to it - Leaving Cert Physics - Question 1 - 2010
Question 1
You carried out an experiment to investigate the relationship between the acceleration of a body and the force applied to it. You did this by applying a force to a b... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:You carried out an experiment to investigate the relationship between the acceleration of a body and the force applied to it - Leaving Cert Physics - Question 1 - 2010
Step 1
Draw a labelled diagram of the apparatus you used.
Answer
To illustrate the setup of the experiment, draw a labelled diagram including the following components:
- A trolley or rider, which acts as the moving body.
- The runway or air track that provides a smooth surface for the trolley to move on.
- A pulley system or setup if used for applying force via a string.
- Means to apply the force, like weights on a pan.
- Two photo-gates or a timer for measuring acceleration accurately. Provide clear labels for each component and ensure that the diagram fits the described apparatus.
Step 2
How did you measure the applied force?
Answer
To measure the applied force, the weights applied to the pan can be weighed using a digital balance, ensuring to consider the force of gravity. The force can be calculated using the formula:
where:
- is the force in Newtons,
- is the mass of the weights in kilograms,
- is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately ).
Step 3
How did you minimise the effect of friction during the experiment?
Answer
To minimize the effect of friction, the following steps can be taken:
- Ensure that the runway is clean and smooth to reduce resistance.
- Use oil on the wheels of the trolley to facilitate smoother movement.
- Check for any obstructions that might cause additional friction and remove them, or implement a frictionless system.
Step 4
Plot a graph on graph paper of the body’s acceleration against the force applied to it.
Answer
On graph paper, plot the acceleration (in m/s²) on the y-axis against the force (in N) on the x-axis. Make sure to:
- Label each axis clearly, including units.
- Plot each data point accurately according to the table provided.
- Draw a best fit line through the points if they show a linear relationship, or accurately connect the points if there’s a curve.
Step 5
What does your graph tell you about the relationship between the acceleration of the body and the force applied to it?
Answer
The resulting graph should illustrate a directly proportional relationship. As the applied force increases, the acceleration of the body also increases. This confirms Newton's second law of motion, which states that acceleration is directly proportional to the net force acting on an object, implying:
a = rac{F}{m}
where is acceleration, is force, and is mass. As such, this graph supports the conclusion that greater forces result in greater accelerations for the body.