Download lab 5A - what is newton

Pre-Lab 5A: What Is A
Newton?
Purpose
• You can think of force as a push or pull.
• Objects interact with each other (and you)
through forces.
• It takes force to start an object’s motion,
and also force to stop an object in motion.
• This investigation will explore the precise
definition of force and measure the
strength of forces.
Key Question
• What is force and how is it measured?
Background
Define:
-force
-weight
-formula for slope
Drawing
• Draw this:
Procedure
Forces have two important properties:
strength and direction (it is a vector).
In the English system of units, the strength
of a force is measured in pounds.
When you measure your own weight in
pounds, you are measuring the force of
gravity acting on your body.
In the metric system, the strength of a force
is measured in Newtons (N).
Section 1:
zero/calibrate your Newton spring scale
every time you use it!!
Section 2:
Weigh the washers: how?
Mass the washers: how?
Section 3:
Make a graph
Calculate slope: show work on front of graph
Show coordinates/points used for slope on
the line
When is a key needed?
Part e: Show your work for this word
problem
Section 4:
You will have to complete the graph before
you do this section
make a prediction of 7 washers: both mass
and weight
Record your prediction and mark the graph
w/dotted lines to show the predicted mass
and weight
Then test your prediction
Post Lab 5A: What Is a Newton?
Purpose
• You can think of force as a push or pull.
• Objects interact with each other (and you)
through forces.
• It takes force to start an object’s motion,
and also force to stop an object in motion.
• This investigation will explore the precise
definition of force and measure the
strength of forces.
Key Question
• What is force and how is it measured?
Background
Define:
-force
-weight
-formula for slope
What are the labels of your graph’s axis?
x = mass (kg) y = weight (N), why does it have to
be in kg (not grams)?
N = kg x m/s/s
Data Line: describe it
slope of line: what is numerator and
denominator?
so, what does the slope describe?
F/M = A, so it describes Acceleration;
but, acceleration of what?
Weight = ? multiplied by ?
W=MxA
why might your predicted mass and weight may
have been off: source of error?