Abstract The experiment is designed to determine the theoretical and experimental angular acceleration of a big and small rolling

disk. The experimental value is calculated by using formula, =

While the theoretical value is calculated by summing the moment about the contact O, = . The experiment was conducted by using an inclined plane with an angulometer. The disk was placed at the starting point of inclined plane and released to allow it to roll to another point. The time taken for disk to roll from starting point to another point was recorded. Experimental value was calculated by using the time taken. The experimental values should be bigger than the theoretical values because of errors. The smaller disk should take shorter time to reach the end point if compared to bigger disk due to its lower mass moment of inertia.

Objective To understand the relationships of mass moment of inertia, angular acceleration, and angular velocity of a disk rolling down an inclined plane.

Introduction In this experiment, two circular disks with different size and mass were used to roll down an inclined plane; time taken for disk to roll down specific distance was recorded to calculate the angular acceleration. From the data collected and calculated, we compare the theoretical and experimental values of angular acceleration to determine the percentage of error.

Theory

The motion of a wheel which is rolling along the ground, without slipping, can be considered in one of two ways: either as a rotation of the wheel about an axis through its center of gravity C and an additional translational motion of the entire wheel with the same velocity as the center of gravity, as shown in Figure 1 above, or as a rotation of the wheel about an instantaneous axis through the point of contact O between the wheel and the ground. A point in the body which is on the instantaneous axis is momentarily at rest. The instantaneous axis itself moves forward as the wheel moves forward, but it always remains parallel to itself and to the axis through the center of gravity. The angular velocity of wheel about the instantaneous axis is the same as that about the axis through the center of gravity. The general motion of a rigid body may be thought of as made up of two parts: one a motion of translation of the center of gravity, with the entire mass of the body acting as though it were concentrated there, and the other a motion of rotation of the body about an axis through the center of gravity. The angular velocity and angular acceleration are calculated by taking the torques and the moment of inertia about an axis through the center of gravity. The linear velocity and the linear acceleration of the center of gravity are then calculated by considering all the forces as though they acted through the center of gravity, and by applying Newtons second law of motion to this case. Considering the case as shown on Figure-1, the disk of radius,r and mass,m rolls without slipping down an inclined plane of angle,. There are three forces acting on the disk, its weight,mg, the normal force mgcos perpendicular to the plane and passing through the center of the disk, and the forward moving force mgsin acting parallel to the plane at the point of contact O and opposing the frictional force, as illustrated in Figure-1. The instantaneous axis of rotation passes through point O and is perpendicular to the plane of the disk.

Apparatus Two disks with different mass and size Inclined plane with two carriers, a height adjuster, an angulometer, a meter stick, two bubble levels for the alignment

Procedure 1. The bubble levels were observed to make sure that the apparatus was set up in a horizontal position 2. The height adjuster was adjusted until the reading of angulometer is 1. 3. The big disk was placed at the starting point stationary, and then released. 4. The time taken for the movement of disk from starting point to ending point was recorded. 5. The experiment was repeated 2 more times to obtain an average time. 6. Step 2 to 5 were repeated by changing the 1 to 2, 3, 4, 5. 7. Step 2 to 6 were repeated by changing the big disk to small disk.