UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS HIGH SCHOOL

Natural Science Department

Academic Year 2013 2014

A STUDY TO DETERMINE THE PROPORTION OF THE WEIGHT OF A BALL TO THE FORCE NEEDED FOR IT TO ACCELERATE

An Investigatory Project Presented to the Faculty of the Natural Science Department University of Santo Tomas High School

In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements in Physics

Griffin Kelly Cruz Liam Ruther Cugal Dither John Nabor Joshua Nathaniel Padrigo Rachelle Pua Krish Jill Talagtag Angelica Tria
GROUP 2 SAINT DIONYSIUS

Mr. Ruben Sinugbuhan

RESEARCH ADVISER

February 26, 2014

ABSTRACT The group decided to use Newton's Laws of Motion as their inspiration for the research. This research is for the determination of proportion between acceleration and mass, as stated in the second law. The group built an experiment set-up to help in the measurement of variables, particularly distance and time. Prior to the experimentation, the metal balls used were weighed. The group also tried to derive from formulae to get the inspiration for the unit Newton (N). The group did several trials to ensure a patterned data. At the end of the experiment, the group was successful in answering the questions stated.

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION I. Background of the Study Sir Isaac Newton was a mathematician and physics scholar who transformed our scientific world. In 1666, Sir Isaac Newton started to develop the theories of gravitation when he was just 23 years old. Then in 1686, he presented three laws of motion in the Principia Mathematica Philosopae Naturalis1. It is believed that he first started studying the effects of gravity after watching the apple fall. His curiosity for the fall of an apple and seeing stars and planets above without falling to the ground, led him to develop three laws of motion. The first motion is the definition of inertia; the second law explains how the velocity of an object changes when an additional force is applied; the third states the action-reaction law. The book was published in July 1687. The Laws of Motion is the main topic that is covered in physics. These laws are considered as one of the basic principles in the subject. The computation in the second law, on the other hand, is the application of math in this paper. This study is part of the requirements in Physics IV. Considered as a major requirement, all students shall accomplish this paper and defend in front of a panel, headed by the Physics teacher. Upon the completion, the students may now be considered as candidates for graduation in their secondary studies.

https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/newton.html

II.

Problems What is the proportion of the mass of an object to the force required for it to

accelerate? How does the angle of the paddle affect the amount of force applied?

III.

Objectives of the Project To determine the proportion of the weight of an object to the force required for it

to accelerate To identify action-reaction forces when given an interaction To state Newtons three laws of motion and motion and display an understanding

of their applications

IV.

Scope and Limitation

This study covers the connection of a uniformed object and an external force being reacted and applied to the object. It shows the relationship of the mass of an object together with its acceleration and applied force. It covers friction, and the deeper interaction between every action omitted by it. This study does not go beyond the study of the three laws of motion.

CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE Sir Isaac Newton Isaac Newton was born in 1642, the same year that Galileo Galilei died. His work on motion was published in 1686 entitled Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica (The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy). This book was the result of investigations when Newton was a student and continued during his tenure as a Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University.2 History of Newtons Laws of Motion Before Newton, Aristotle believed that all objects have a natural state in our universe, the heavy are to be at rest on earth, the light objects are to be at rest at the sky and the stars are to remain at the heavens. He thought that the object would remain at the state until an external agent will affect and continue to affect it to be in straight motion, otherwise the object would stop moving. However, Galileo Galilei observed that an external agent would make an object at rest move but not necessary for it to continue moving. He called it inertia; this was the basis of Newtons Law of Motion or the law of Inertia. Also, Aristotle predicted that an object of Greater mass would fall faster and hit the ground first; however, Galilei proved this wrong. He conducted an experiment atop the leaning Tower of Pisa. He tried to drop a cannon ball and musket ball at the same

Thomas Grissom, The Physicist's World: The Story of Motion & the Limits to Knowledge (Baltimore, Maryland: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2011), 99.

time, but found out that the objects fell at the same rate and hit the ground at roughly the same time. The Experiment has inspired Newtons Second Law of Motion.3 The Laws of Motion First Law of Motion (Inertia) An object at rest will remain at rest and an object in motion will remain in motion, with constant velocity, unless acted upon by an external, non-zero force. states, that if a body is at rest or moving at a constant speed in a straight line, it will remain at rest or keep moving in a straight line at a constant speed unless it is acted upon by an external, non-zero force. This Postulate is known as the law of inertia. The Law of Inertia was first formulated by Galileo Galilei for horizontal motion on Earth and was later generalized be Ren Descartes. Before Galileo it had been thought that all horizontal motion required a direct cause, but Galileo Deduced from his experiments that a body in motion unless a force (such as Friction) caused it to come to rest.4 Second Law of Motion (Acceleration) The Acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on the object and indirectly proportional to the mass of the object. states that the behavior of objects for which all existing forces are not balanced. The Second law states that the Acceleration of an object in dependent upon two variables the net force acting upon the object and the mass of the object. The Acceleration of an

3 4

https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/newton.html http://global.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/287326/law-of-inertia

object depends directly upon the net force acting upon the object, and inversely upon the mass of the object. As the Force acting upon an object is increased, the acceleration of the object is increased. As the mass of an object is increased, , the acceleration of the object is decreased.5 Third Law of Motion (Interaction) For every action, there is an equal and Opposite Reaction. states that in every interaction, there is a pair of forces acting on the two interacting objects. The size of the forces on the first object equals the size of the force on the second object. The direction of the force on the first object is opposite to the direction of the second object. Forces always come in pairs equal and opposite action reaction force pairs.6

5 6

http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/newtlaws/u2l3a.cfm http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/momentum/u4l2a.cfm

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY Materials: 2 meter Wooden Plank (for track) 3 balls (varying weights) Plywood (for paddle) Door Hinge (for paddles) Protractor (for measuring the angle of paddle)

Blueprint:

Protractor

Paddle

Procedure: First, raise the paddle at the 30. Place one of the balls at the start of the track. Release the paddle. Record the time that from the paddle hit the ball until the ball stopped rolling. Also, record the distance the ball rolled. Repeat this procedure for the 60 and 90 angle.

CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 1. Data and Computation MASS ANGLE DISTANCE (cm) 100g 30 60 90 200g 30 60 90 400g 30 60 90 90.33 200 200 39.33 86 120 31.67 32.33 41.67 TIME (sec.) 3.53 3.78 3.27 2.32 3.32 3.78 3.23 2.11 1.83 0.72 1.39 1.87 1.45 1.56 1.68 1.22 2.9 4.97 FORCE (N)

MASS

AVERAGE FORCE

ACCELERATION

PROPORTION

100g 200g 400g

1.98 1.98 1.98

19.76 9.88 4.94

x1 x 1/2 x 1/4

2.

Analysis of Results/Data During the experimentation, the results show that the higher the angles degree,

the distance covered is longer and the force exerted becomes higher. The mass of the metal ball bearing shows that the heavier it gets, it needs more force exerted to cover a long distance. For the ball with the smaller mass, it moves fast and covers a longer distance even if theres less force exerted. For the second ball with the mass of 200g it took more time to stop but it didnt cover much distance unlike the first ball. And the third ball with the mass of 400g it took more force and time to cover a longer distance.

3.

Documentation

CHAPTER 4: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION Conclusion Based on the experiments performed, the mass of an object is indirectly proportional to the needed force to start acceleration. The rate is the reciprocal of the mass used. As for the other problem, the larger the angle of the paddle, the greater amount of force it applies to the external body because of greater acceleration from gravity. Recommendation The group recommends that in the re-enactment of our experiment, to use a smoother surface to lessen friction. Friction causes deceleration and could result to a faulty computation of force. The group also recommends the further study of Force, acceleration and other factors that the two aspects of motion.

CHAPTER 6: APPLICATION TO REAL LIFE The prototype done by the group shows the relationship of force, distance and time. Those elements made up the three laws of motion namely law of inertia, acceleration, and reaction. The prototype can be related in various fields and one of it is through sports like hockey, bowling, tennis, golf and many more. The prototype will help the players to be aware what angle is most effective in striking the object. Industries that produce sports equipment that will know of the relationship of weight and force can have new model of their tools that can aid the concerns of their customer. Also, auto-making companies can build more fuel-efficient cars because of their new understanding in the relationship of force and mass.