Coefficient of Friction Lab-Incline Plane
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Dr. Campbell 15 Lab Coefficient of Friction Incline Plane.docx 15 October 2015 Coefficient of Friction Lab-Incline Plane Name: Lab Partner(s): Period: Date(s): Objectives 1. To determine acceleration from a velocity versus time graph. 2. To draw and understand force diagrams. 3. To calculate frictional forces. 4. To determine the coefficient of friction between two surfaces. Theory As a cart goes up or down an inclined plane, it will be under the influence of two primary forces – gravity and friction. As the cart moves uphill (below left), the component of gravity and the friction force are both acting against the motion. This results in acceleration that we will call aup . This is the acceleration that slows the cart while it is going uphill. θ F g = mg sin F F = mg sin θ motion fr g Ffr a a up dn θ Cart going up the incline Cart going down the incline As the cart moves downhill (above right), the component of gravity pulls it down while the friction force pulls uphill, working against its motion, resulting in adn . Equipment and Materials Incline Plane Cart Motion Detector Meterstick Procedure 1. Set up the inclined plane or dynamics track as shown 1 m above. Measure a length of 1 meter along the incline eter starting at the point where it touches the table. Measure ∆∆∆h the height from the table to the bottom of the incline at θ this point, ∆∆∆h. Record this value in the Data Table. Measure and record the mass of your cart, m. Limit ∆∆∆h to 5 cm maximum. 2. Connect the Motion Detector to your LabQuest Mini and place it near the bottom of the incline. With the LabQuest connected to your computer, launch Logger Pro . 3. Click on the “stopwatch” icon just to the left of the green Collect button. Change the duration of the experiment to about 10 seconds (this may need be changed accordingly. Dr. Campbell 15 Lab Coefficient of Friction Incline Plane.docx 15 October 2015 4. Set the cart on the incline and practice pushing it uphill with just enough speed to rise near the top but not going over the edge. Be sure to catch the cart on its return before it crashes into the Motion Detector. Also remember the detector is will not record an object closer than about 15 cm. 5. Initiate data collection by clicking the green Collect button. When clicks are heard coming from the Motion Detector, push the cart up the incline as you practiced. A good set of data will show smooth curves on both the position and velocity graphs. 6. When you have completed your analysis with one angle, repeat for a different angle. Analysis Questions 1. Calculate the angle of the incline, θθθtrig , from your ∆h value. Note that ∆h/(1 meter) is the sine of angle θ. (Both numerator and denominator have to be in the same units!) 2. On the velocity vs. time graph, determine the section where the cart is moving uphill. How did you decide this was the correct section to be examining? Determine the slope of this portion of the graph, which will be aup . Record this value. 3. On the velocity vs. time graph, determine the section where the cart is moving downhill. How did you decide this was the correct section to be examining? Determine the slope of this portion of the graph, which will be adn . Record this value. Include a printout of the graph with the analysis in your lab report. 4. Write equations summing forces in the (x) and (y) directions for when the cart is moving up the ramp. 5. Write equations summing forces in the (x) and (y) directions for when the cart is moving down the ramp. Note: Make the positive direction for the (x) equation the same as in step four. 6. Use the equations from steps 4 and 5, the mass of the cart, and aup and adn to determine the frictional force acting on the cart. Notes: Do not use your angle from step 1 to determine the frictional force. If you made the positive direction down the ramp substitute the accelerations you determined on the graph as positive values. 7. Use the equations from steps 4 and 5, the mass of the cart, and aup and adn to determine the theoretical angle of θθθtheory ... 8. Calculate the percent difference between θθθtrig and θθθtheory . 9. Calculate the coefficient of static friction (µ s) for the experiment using the frictional force you determined in step 6 and the angle you found in step 7. 10. Repeat steps 1-9 for a second angle. Conclusion Questions 1. Is the acceleration greater when the cart is on the way up the ramp on the way down the ramp? Explain. 2. Do you expect the friction force to have a larger effect on the two accelerations if the angle is larger or smaller? Explain. 3. Should there difference between the coefficient of static friction (µ s) between the experiments at different angles? Is there difference between the coefficient of static friction (µ s) between the experiments at different angles? Explain why there might be a difference. 4. Would you expect the mass of the cart to have an effect on the acceleration? Explain .