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M-2 Equilibrium of Forces
OBJECTIVE: To experimentally verify vector addition of forces.
APPARATUS:
- Circular horizontal force table with
scale, pulleys,
weight hangers, slotted masses, protractor, rulers.
Figure 1:
The horizontal force table
|
PROCEDURE:
- Choose two concurrent forces, each between 100 and 500 gram
weight and not in the same direction. Add these two vectors to find
the resultant force: use both a
graphical construction and a numerical computation.
Check your result by setting up the two original forces on the force table,
and finding experimentally the single force which will hold them in
equilibrium. Random errors are due mainly to friction. You can estimate them by
repeating the measurement several times. Are your measured values consistent with the
computation and graphical construction?
Repeat the experiment but use three different original forces.
QUESTION: If the weight hangers used all have identical masses, can their
weight be neglected?
Next: M-3 Static Forces and Moments
Up: Mechanics
Previous: MC-1c Motion, Velocity and Acceleration
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Physics Laboratory
2001-08-29