Purpose |
To determine the centripital force of an airplane in circular motion.
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Tools of the trade |
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Procedure |
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Data |
String length: 90 cm
Plane Mass: 130 g Radius of circle: 68 cm RPM: 50 |
Analysis |
Method 1:
Fc = mv^2/r V=2*pi*r / period 50 RPM = a period of 1.2 seconds V=2*pi*.68/1.2 V=3.5605 Fc=(.13*3.5605^2)/.68 Fc= 2.4245362 Newtons Method 2: --------------------- sumFy=Tcos(theta)-mg=0 T=mg/cos(theta) theta= sin^-1(r/L) theta=49.074 T=.13*9.81/cos(49.074) T= 1.94677 Tcos(49.074)-.13*9.81= 0 ZERO NET FORCE IN Y DIRECTION ------------------------ sumFx=Tsin(theta)=Fc 1.94677*sin(49.074)=1.471 Fc = 1.471 Newtons ---------------------------------- Percent Error: Fc1-Fc2/average of Fc1&2 .95354/1.9478= .48955 NEARLY 49% ERROR between these. |
Sources of error |
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Conclusion |
This lab was a success! We were able to not only find the centripital force that holds an airplane up (in this case our string), but also learned a bit in the process (always an admirable goal).
I personally learned how to relate centripital force, radius, and velocity, something I previously had not understood. Plus it was kinda fun. :) |