Newton's 2nd Law on the Atwood Machine

PHY 200 & 230

Demonstrates how force is related to the acceleration of the mass to which it is applied. The Atwood Machine allows the net force on a fixed mass to be varied in order to see the effect on velocity and acceleration of that mass. Students will first calculate the theoretical acceleration of a system using merely given weights and Newton's 2nd Law. They then verify that result by setting the masses into motion and measuring distance and time to allow an alternative calculation of acceleration using kinematic formulas.

Equipment

Notes

Each lab bench already has a lattice rod clamp attached to the rod.

This lab requires laptops. The computer cart containing the laptops can be wheeled by faculty into the lab room. Make sure there are plenty of slotted masses in the back of the room. Make sure that the room has plenty of paper.