Lab 5 Finding the Acceleration QMPHYS1115 Rev9.2.2023REVACC

Lab 5: Finding the Acceleration © 2023 by Orlando Patricio adapted from https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/category/physics Name: Alexandra Chapa INSTRUCTIONS: (1) Download this lab document, CLICK on “ enable editing ” located at the top, middle of the downloaded document and type out answers on the space provided for then save your answers. (2) If the spacing automatically moves, adjust so that your answers are not all over the place. (3) Upload this document, with your answers on it, on the designated Lab 5 Dropbox on Canvas Lab Reports/Module Tab. (4) If possible, ALL answers must be in green font or highlighted in yellow background with black font . This lab uses the Forces and Motion: Finding the Acceleration simulation from PhET Interactive Simulations at University of Colorado Boulder under the CC-BY 4.0 license. Grading Policy for Lab Reports WITH Pre-/Post-lab Questions Grading Policy for Lab Reports WITHOUT Pre-/Post-lab Questions Completeness and accuracy of answers (with required screenshots) for the: 1. Warm-up and lab activities – 70% 2. Pre-/Post-lab questions – 10% 3. Conclusions and real-life applications – 20% Completeness and accuracy of answers (with required screenshots) for the: 1. Warm-up and lab activities – 80% 2. Conclusions & real-life applications – 20% Purposes/Objectives: In this lab, you will be able to: 1) find average acceleration (dynamics) using net force and mass. 2) describe the acceleration values as the mass of the object increases. Procedure: 1. Click the link below (hover mouse on the link then press at the same time: ctrl and left click ) https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/forces-and-motion-basics/latest/forces-and-motion-basics_en.html

2. On PhET Sims that appears, select Acceleration tab or screen. Your screen should look like the one below (left side). 3. Inside Acceleration tab or screen (like the screen shot above on the right), put a check mark on Forces , Sum of Forces (or net force =  F ), Values, Masses , Speed, and Acceleration on the control panels or tools (located at the top right corner). On Friction tool (below speed and acceleration), keep the slider’s position (middle) as is. Your screen should look like the one above (right side). 4. Mass = 50 kg. With the 50 kg crate in the middle of the track or platform, using the Applied Force (Newtons) button/slider located below the crate, increase the force (by moving the slider knob to the right or press the arrow/double arrow above the slider) until the crate moves. Observe that the applied force and the friction are balanced until sum of forces exceeds zero. When the sum of forces (also known as net force or  F or resultant force = 174 N – 94 N = 80 N, for example) is greater than zero the crate moves. Choose whatever sum of forces (net force) you want. Record the sum of forces (net force) and the corresponding mass on the Data Table (under Trial 1). Using the Newton’s second law of motion, find the acceleration (using the formula: a 1 =  F / m ) and record. Trial 1 has been done for you as an example. 5. Use the Reset button (located below the control tools or panels) to start fresh. Remember to check-off again Forces , Sum of Forces (or net force =  F ), Values, Masses , Speed, and Acceleration on the control tools or panels. 6. Mass = 90 kg. With the 50 kg crate in the middle of the track, drag the other 40 kg (girl) located at the bottom right and put it

Post-lab Questions: 1. Define acceleration in your own words based on the results of the lab experiment. Acceleration can be defined as the result of the net force divided by mass (F/m). It can also be defined as the change in velocity over a specific time interval. For example, if an object's velocity changes from 10 m/s to 30 m/s in 5 seconds, the acceleration would be (30 - 10) / 5 = 4 m/s². . 2. What is the relationship between net force (on the pushed object) and acceleration based on the results of the lab experiment? Based on the results of the lab experiment, we observed that there is a direct relationship between the net force applied to an object and its acceleration. As the net force increases, the acceleration of the object also increases. 3. What is the relationship between acceleration and the total mass of the (pushed) object based on the results of the lab experiment. Based on the results of the lab experiment, we found that there is an inverse relationship between the total mass of the pushed object and its acceleration. As the mass of the object increases, the acceleration decreases. Conclusions: Write a(n elaborated) summary of the physics concepts learned based from the results of the lab experiment. Provide real-life applications/examples. Elaborate. Acceleration can be defined in two ways. The first formula, F/m, relates to the net force over the mass of the object. The second formula, (vf-vi)/(tf-ti), calculates acceleration based on the change in velocity over a change in time. Both formulas are correct and provide different perspectives on acceleration. It's interesting how we can use percentage difference to assess the precision of our calculations. Acceleration is indeed a concept we encounter in various ways in our daily lives. It's fascinating to see it in action!