Discussion:
1. Table of result:
For this specific experiment, there was no theoretical and experimental values to be compared. However, the group was required to find the length of the error vector from the graph, then compare it to 5% of the smallest force found in the trail.
– The smallest force = -1.10 N
– The length of the error vector = 0.115N
Since the length of the error vector is greater than 5% of the smallest force, the experiment failed.
2. Physics of experiment:
In this experiment, to clarify the components of a vector, and how vectors are added; a Pasco Mechanics system was used. Using the second law of Newton’s, which says that the force is the multiplication of the mass of an object and the acceleration acting upon it. Three trails were performed in this experiment, and in each trail, vectors were represented by connecting strings in quantity of three, to a circle in the middle then to a bully. The end of each string was wrapped around a hanger, so weighs could be added to the string. The magnitude of each vector in the three trails was measured by calculating the force acting on the strings due to the weighs. Masses were in grams, so they had to be converted to kilograms to calculate force in Newtons. Having the same weighs at the end of each string, and by moving the scale of angles; the static equilibrium was established. When the static equilibrium was met, masses of the weighs and forces were measured.
3. Sources of error:
A systematic intrinsic error occurred because of friction between bullies and strings, or friction between strings and the board of the system. There were a couple of random error in measurement. First, might have happened if the readings of the angles were not precise, which happens if the string doesn’t perfectly line up with a certain angle. So, for example, the angle would be between any two different values, which makes it hard to determine what would be the reading of that angle. Second, happens if the percent error of the error vector is greater than 5%.
4. Results:
For this specific experiment, there was no theoretical and experimental values to be compared. However, the group was required to find the length of the error vector from the graph, then compare it to 5% of the smallest force found in the trail. The experiment in this trail fails because the length of the error vector is greater than 5% of smallest force.
Conclusion:
The main goal of performing this experiment was to measure vectors by adding. The three forces acting on the Pasco Mechanics system were measured using Newton’s law of weight, which created a static equilibrium. subsequently, the error vector was measured and compared to value of 5% of the smallest force in the system. The experiment has failed; because the length of the error vector turned out to be greater than 5% of the smallest force in the system.
