Fnet Lab UGHH: Calculating Accelerative Force of Falling Mass

[balllla]

Homework Statement

Okay so we did this lab at school a few days ago where we had a cart and pulleys with different amounts of weights. They used photogates. By doing this we got the acceleration of the cart (measured). I figured the "accelerative force of falling mass" by using the f=ma equation.
It is looking for the Fnet force on the cart causing acceleration? would that be F = (M + m) acceleration ?

Homework Equations

f=ma

The Attempt at a Solution

i'm not sure...

 

[anathema]

Dear student,

Thank you for sharing your experience with the lab and your attempt at finding the solution. It seems like you are on the right track in using the f=ma equation to calculate the "accelerative force of falling mass". However, there are a few things to consider in order to accurately determine the Fnet force on the cart causing acceleration.

Firstly, it is important to clarify what is meant by "Fnet force". Fnet, or net force, is the sum of all the forces acting on an object. In this case, the cart. So, in order to calculate the Fnet force, you need to take into account all the forces acting on the cart, including the force of gravity (which is the weight of the cart and the weights attached to it), the force of friction, and any other external forces (such as the force applied to the cart by the pulleys).

Secondly, the equation F=ma is a simplified version of Newton's second law of motion, which states that the net force acting on an object is equal to its mass multiplied by its acceleration. So, in order to accurately determine the Fnet force, you need to know the mass of the cart and the weights attached to it, as well as the acceleration measured by the photogates.

In summary, to determine the Fnet force on the cart causing acceleration, you will need to use the equation Fnet = ma, taking into account all the forces acting on the cart and using the measured values for mass and acceleration. I hope this helps clarify your confusion and good luck with your further experiments!



Scientist

 

[kerimek]

I would like to clarify a few things about your experiment and the calculations you have done. Firstly, it is important to understand that the equation f=ma represents Newton's Second Law of Motion, which states that the net force acting on an object is equal to its mass multiplied by its acceleration. In your experiment, you have correctly used this equation to calculate the net force (Fnet) acting on the cart, which is causing its acceleration.

However, it is important to note that the Fnet force is not the same as the "accelerative force of falling mass". The Fnet force is the sum of all the forces acting on the cart, including the force of gravity (which is causing the cart to accelerate). The "accelerative force of falling mass" is simply the force of gravity acting on the cart, which can be calculated using the equation F=mg (where m is the mass of the object and g is the acceleration due to gravity).

In order to accurately calculate the Fnet force on the cart, you would need to take into account all the forces acting on it, including friction, air resistance, and any other external forces. This may require more advanced measurements and calculations, such as using a force sensor or taking into account the angle of the pulley system.

In summary, while your use of the f=ma equation is correct, it is important to understand the difference between Fnet and the "accelerative force of falling mass" and to consider all forces acting on the cart when calculating the Fnet force.