Question

part c using the task 1 setup, plan a controlled experiment to investigate how changing the net force on an object changes its acceleration. the mass of the object must stay the same. record your plan here.

Explanation:

Step1: Identify variables

Independent variable is net - force, dependent variable is acceleration, and mass is controlled variable.

Step2: Set up the apparatus

Use a dynamics cart on a friction - compensated track. Attach a string to the cart which goes over a pulley and has masses hanging from it. The hanging masses create the net - force on the cart.

Step3: Measure acceleration

Use a motion sensor to measure the acceleration of the cart as the net - force is changed by adding or removing hanging masses.

Step4: Record data

Record the values of net - force (calculated as $F = mg$, where $m$ is the mass of the hanging masses and $g$ is the acceleration due to gravity) and the corresponding acceleration values for each trial.

Step5: Analyze data

Plot a graph of net - force ($F$) on the x - axis and acceleration ($a$) on the y - axis. A linear relationship should be observed according to Newton's second law ($F=ma$).

Answer:

1. Set up a dynamics cart on a friction - compensated track. Attach a string over a pulley with hanging masses to create net - force on the cart.
2. Use a motion sensor to measure the cart's acceleration.
3. Change the net - force by adding or removing hanging masses while keeping the mass of the cart constant.
4. Record the net - force (calculated as $F = mg$) and corresponding acceleration values for each trial.
5. Plot a graph of net - force vs acceleration and analyze the relationship.