To investigate the relationship between Angular Acceleration and Torque.

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Practical_CircMotion                Anthony Paterson

Circular Motion Practical – UB Physics Assessment 1

Aim:         To investigate the relationship between Angular Acceleration and Torque.

Hypothesis: Angular Acceleration will be proportional to torque ( α α τ ) according to the equation τ = Iα

Independent Variable:         τ , Torque :

Torque was changed by varying both F and r in the formula τ = Fr .

Force is varied by changing the hanging mass and therefore the force due to gravity.

The radius (r) is varied by using different drive radii (shown in the method diagram), ie. applying the force due to gravity to the different sized rims underneath the cylinder being accelerated.

Dependant Variable:        α , Angular Acceleration :

                                

A cylinder on a low friction axle is accelerated by the independent variable - torque.

The measurements taken are the velocity at the rim and the diameter of the cylinder (to find r).

Variables to be controlled:        

                -Radius of velocity measurement.

The radius from the centre of rotation to the rim which the ticker tape was attached to was a constant 0.124m. Velocity measurements derived from the ticker tape therefore exist at this radius, so it is used to calculate angular velocity α=v/r.

                

                -Radius of torque application.

The radius from the centre of rotation to the rim which the force was applied to was varied between three values, 0.0153m, 0.0252m, and 0.0352m. These values are used calculate torque τ=Fr

                -Force

The force applied was varied by hanging 500g or 1000g masses in the apparatus and found using F=mg

Method:

The apparatus was setup as shown in the diagrams below:

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preparation

The diagrams above do not show the base of the apparatus, which is simply a mounting point for the axle, with a low friction ball bearing, and for the pulley which the masses are hung over.

Support the masses before the run so the system can be set up.

For the first set of runs the masses are to be hung on a line running over the pulley and attached to the first of three drive radii.

The ticker timer and guide need to be raised to the correct height (in line ...

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