Physics 110 Laboratory

Lab 5: Forces and Equilibrium

Week of September 26, 2016

Objectives

The objectives of this excercise are:

to
to
to
to

experimentally determine the required force to bring a system into equilibrium

master the vector nature of forces
master a component description of vectors
master the magnitude/angle description of vectors

Introduction

In this experiment, weights attached by strings exert forces on a small ring. A pulley system allows
the tension in each string to be precisely and accurately determined using hanging weights. With
care, each string can be made to exert its force radially outward from the center of the ring, and
the clocking angle of each string can be adjusted and measured.
Several known loading forces will be applied, and the net force acting on the ring will be calculated ASSUMING that forces behave like vectors. But how can this mathematical idea of a
vector sum be tested experimentally? How can you determine whether a vector sum of forces
REALLY does represent the combined eect of multiple forces?
In your experiment, you will apply a single balancing force in addition to the loading forces. When
the balancing force causes an equilibrium state of the ring, you will have your experimental check:
if your balancing force is equal in magnitude, AND opposite in direction, to the net loading force,
then your experimental forces really must behave like mathematical vectors.

Equipment

You are given a force table which includes the ring to which forces are applied, a center pin,
strings, pulleys, weight pans, weights, a level, a protractor, and a ruler.
The circular force table has an angular scale inscribed so you can measure the direction of forces
about the vertical axis. Pulleys can be clamped along the edge at any position. Then the strings
tied to the ring can run over the pulleys, such that gravity acting on known masses causes a known
tension in each string.

IMPORTANT: the angular scale is ONLY meaningful if the string runs radially outward from the
central axis of the force table!
ALSO IMPORTANT: the HEIGHT of each pulley can be adjusted. Forces pull in THREE dimensions, but the force table only allows accurate measurement in TWO dimensions. You can (and
must!) simplify to two dimensions ONLY by making sure there are NO vertical (with respect to
gravity) components of force in this experiment. In reality this is impossible to achieve; gravity
will cause the ring to sag below the tops of the pulleys. See tips and tricks below for some helpful
suggestions for minimizing the eect of non-horizontal tension.
ALSO IMPORTANT: the various tensions are NOT the only forces acting on the ring. Gravity
also exerts a force. You cant ignore the component of gravity PARALLEL to the force tables
surface. But you CAN minimize it with the help of a level!

Procedure

4.1

Measurement 1: Loading Forces

In this portion, you will load the ring with several forces. Follow the procedure carefully and
thoroughly!
The axes of your force table should correspond to an x-axis at 0 and a y-axis at +90 .
Positive angles should go counterclockwise.
Use a level to make sure the force table is level in both x and y directions. Turn screws on
the feet to adjust for leveling. You need to do this VERY carefully for the best results!!
Record the mass of the ring without any string attached to it. Also record the uncertainty.
Using very arbitrary masses 100 g (but dont break the strings), and using arbitrary angles
(do NOT use perpendicular forces!), set up a NON-equilibrium combination of three applied
forces plus gravity, acting on the ring.
IMPORTANT: make sure the string goes over the tops of the pulleys at the SAME height for
each! Why? Think about it, and answer the first two questions on the spreadsheet template
for today. Millimeters matter for this!
IMPORTANT: tie each string LOOSELY to the ring so the strings are free to slide around
the circumference. (Later, the strings need to pull radially outward when the ring is centered
in equilibrium.)
Use the center pin: the non-equilibrium forces will tug the ring until the center pin stops it,
not too far from center.
Record the angle of each force, and the mass hanging from each string below each pulley.
Make sure you include the mass of the tray that holds the weights. Make sure to record
uncertainties for all your measurements too.

4.2

Diagram 1: Loading Forces

Now use the drawing in the spreadsheet to make a force diagram TO SCALE. Your instructor will
help you use the software; here are some guidelines to follow:

 Label the scale you choose on your drawing. A good suggestion is to use about one inch per
Newton.
The vector arrows you were given can be rotated to the angles you set for the loading forces.
Your instructor will show you how.
Label each loading force consistent with the names in the first table of data you created.
Click and drag the ring so that it bumps against the center pin in the same orientation as
you see experimentally.
Click and drag each loading force vector so they act radially outward from the ring, just like
you see experimentally.
Answer the questions and show the diagram to your instructor before moving on.

4.3

Measurement 2: Balancing Force

Now tie a fourth string to the ring, and hang masses over a fourth pulley. Adjust the amount
of mass and the direction of the pulley until the ring is in equilibrium, accurately centered (say
2 mm) about the center pin. Here are some important guidelines:
~ B , ONLY adjust the masses and pulley of the balancing
When finding this balancing force F
force. Do NOT make any changes to the applied forces you already recorded their settings!
No cheating; do not make a mathematical prediction of the balancing forces magnitude or
direction. You are doing a blind confirmation of the vector nature of forces!
The ring is in equilibrium when it springs back to center when disturbed. Be prepared to
show this test for equilibrium to your instructor.
Once you have found equilibrium, show your instructor! Record the direction and magnitude
~ B . Do not record uncertainties yet.
of F
Again, dont forget to include the mass of the weight tray once you have achieved equilibrium.
Now that you have found the balancing force, it is time to experimentally determine uncertainty.
To do this, we will use the concept of a tolerance. The idea is this: how much weight can you
~ B before the ring is not within a tolerance of 3 mm from center? You could choose a
add to F
tolerance of 1 mm or 1 cm, in principle. But you must always report your tolerance. Please use
something like 3 mm for this experiment. Record your tolerance in the space indicated on the
spreadsheet.
~ B , until the equilibrium position
First, add very small amounts of mass to the weight pan for F
of the ring changes by your tolerance. The amount of mass that just causes your tolerance
to be exceeded is what we will call M for this experiment.
Remove the mass so your ring is perfectly centered again.
Now, adjust the angle until your tolerance is just exceeded. Record the change of angle as
.
~ B and associated uncertainties. Your
Now you are ready to calculate the x- and y-components of F
instructor will teach you how to calculate uncertainties for each component given your values for
M and .
Answer the question(s) for this section before moving on.

4.4

Analysis 1: Loading Forces

Using your measurements of loading force magnitudes and angles, fill out the table provided in the
spreadsheet. Your instructor will teach you how to calculate uncertainties similar to the previous
section. In the space labeled These add up to... enter a value that makes physical sense! See
question 7 in the template.

4.5

Diagram 2: Equilibrium

In the space provided, make a new diagram showing the equilibrium condition. Here are some
guidelines:
Use the same scale you used in the earlier diagram
This time do not change the rotation setting of each arrow. Directly type in an appropriate
width and height. You may need to use the flip feature under format and align if your
vectors need negative components.
Place the three loading forces tip to tail, with the first force acting on the center of the ring.
Place the red balancing force vector also acting on the center of the ring.
Show your instructor your beautiful equilibrium diagram!

4.6

Analysis 2: Precision and Accuracy

Fill out the table provided in the template, to compare the x- and y- components of the net loading
~ B . Your
force with the x- and y- components of the experimentally-determined balancing force F
instructor will help you understand how to propagate uncertainty correctly.
Take some time to think about how precisely and how accurately you have tested the vector nature
of forces. Make sure to answer the last question(s) on the template, clean up your workspace, and
say a friendly good-bye to your instructor before leaving.