Name ______________________________
Ms. Sabbatino
Date ___________
Period _________
Vocabulary:

Centripetal

Tangential

Circumference

Period
Background:
In order for an object to move in a circle, there must be a net force acting on the object.
This net force pulls the object _______________________________________________, and is called the __________________________. Because the net force acting on the object is directed towards the center, the acceleration vector of the object is directed
________________________. The velocity of the object is directed
__________________ to the circle. In order to calculate the velocity of an object moving in a circle, you can use the simple velocity formula v=d/t . In a circle, the distance traveled is called the ________________, which is calculated using the formula
_____________________. The time it takes to complete one lap around the circle is called the _______________, which is calculated using the formula
________________________. Combining these two formulas, we get the speed of an object moving in a circle is __________________.
Goal: To determine the mathematical relationship between the centripetal force acting on an object and the resulting velocity of that object for a constant radius and mass.

Predictions:
1.
As the centripetal force acting on the object increases, I think the speed it will travel at will ___________________________________.
2.
I think the graph of centripetal force vs. speed will look like
F c v
Materials: List everything you use here
Clear plastic tube
string
stopper
Mass set
Stop watches
Meter stick
Lab Setup: Draw AND LABEL the setup
Procedure:
1.
Select a radius you will use by placing a piece of tape below the handle. a.
Measure the radius from the top of the tube to the middle of the stopper
2.
Hang a 0.2kg mass from the bottom of the string
3.
Swing the stopper in a horizontal circle over your head.
4.
Once it is moving at a constant speed, time how long it takes to complete 20 revolutions.
5.
Add 0.2kg and repeat for 10 total trials.

Data: Fill out whatever you need to in the table below
Circumference Calculation:
Radius = 0.5m
Circumference: trial
4
5
6
7
8
1
2
3
9
10
Mass hanging from the string
(Kg)
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1.0
Weight of the mass
= Centripetal Force
(N)
Time to complete
20 revolutions (s)
60
43
35
30
27
24
22.7
21
20
19
Analysis:
You will create a graph. a.
X-axis:_____V____________ b.
Y-axis:_____Fc____________
Period (s) Speed (m/s)

Conclusion:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________