Newton's Second Law of Motion on the Atwood Machine

These flashcards cover key concepts, definitions, and calculations related to Newton's Second Law of Motion and the Atwood machine, based on the provided lecture notes.

What is Newton's Second Law of Motion?

The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass.

In an Atwood machine, what does the mass m1 represent?

The heavier mass that causes acceleration when connected to m2.

What was the average time in seconds for Trial 1 in the experiment?

1.74 seconds.

What was the percent difference in acceleration for Trial 3?

9.32%.

If friction is present in the Atwood machine, how does it affect acceleration?

The acceleration would be lesser compared to a frictionless scenario.

How do you calculate force needed to accelerate a stalled car?

Using F = mass × (final velocity - initial velocity) / time.

What was the force (F) calculated to push a stalled 1,000 kg car to 10 m/s in 100 seconds?

100 N.

What happens when the angle θ of the incline is 90° in the Atwood machine setup?

It creates a vertical fall scenario, essentially converting to free fall for m1.

What happens if the mass m1 is 0 in the Atwood machine?

The acceleration a would equal g * sin(θ) and tension T would equal 0.

What is the relationship between heavier and lighter masses in an Atwood machine?

The heavier mass accelerates downwards while the lighter mass accelerates upwards.

What is the equation for acceleration in this context? (general)

a = (m2 * sin(θ) - m1) / (m1 + m2) * g.

How do you express tension in the cord of an Atwood machine with a frictionless pulley?

T = (m1 * m2 * sin(θ) + m1 * m2) / (m1 + m2) * g.

What is the approximate value of acceleration 'a' from equation 1 in Trial 1?

48.22 cm/s².

What does the deviation in percent difference indicate in experimental results?

It indicates the level of accuracy and reliability between the calculations from the two equations.

In Newton's Second Law, what units are commonly used for mass, force, and acceleration?

Mass in kilograms (kg), force in newtons (N), and acceleration in meters per second squared (m/s²).

What is the initial condition for the car before applying force in the experiment?

The car starts at rest.

Define the term 'frictionless incline' in the context of the Atwood machine experiment.

An incline with no resistance that would otherwise slow down the movement of the block.

In the Atwood machine experiment, why is the pulley considered 'frictionless'?

To simplify calculations and isolate the effects of mass and gravitational force.

How does changing mass m2 affect the tension in the cord?

Increasing m2 increases tension and vice versa.

What must be considered when analyzing discrepancies in acceleration results from two equations?

Possible sources of experimental error.