part 3 table
x0 = 10.00 cm
Measured mass m (g)
Ruler Position x (cm)
Radial Distance r (cm)
Torque τ (Nm)
Calculated mass (g)
Percent error (%)
Ruler center of mass
16.50
15
5
0.00809
16.51
1.65
4 washers
24.60
14
4
0.00965
part 4 table
x0 = 10.00 cm
Ruler position x (cm)
Radial distance r (cm)
Spring scale reading or mass (g)
Torque τ,exp (Nm)
Torque τ,theory (Nm)
Percent error (%)
Spring scale
25.00
15.00
0.5
Ruler center of mass
15
5
part 5 table
Location
Center of mass
Spring scale
Pivot point
Spring scale reading or mass (g)
16.50
0.5
blank
Angle θ (°)
70
60
110
Perpendicular Force F⊥ (N)
0.152
0.0425
Parallel Force F‖ (N)
Net Force Fnet (N)
Torque τ (Nm)
Part 3: Equilibrium with the Center of Mass and Vertical Spring Scale
Copy the ruler position, radial distance, measured mass, and torque for the center of mass of the ruler from Data Table 4 to Data Table 5.
Zero the spring scale by holding it vertically and adjusting the scale by pulling up or pushing down the tab on the top of the scale until the pointer aligns with the zero mark of the scale.
Remove three washers from the ruler, ensuring that the long supporting string remains at 10.0 cm.
Tie a short string to the hook of the spring scale and attach the other end to the right side of the ruler at the 25.0 cm mark.
Secure the string to the ruler with tape, ensuring the string is not twisted around the ruler, either front to back or top to bottom.
Pull up vertically on the spring scale until the ruler makes a 90° angle with the string.
Use the protractor to verify the string located at x0 makes a 90° angle with the ruler.
Record the spring scale reading to 0.5 g in Data Table 5.
Calculate the magnitude of the torque provided by the spring scale using the torque equation, visually determine the sign of the torque, and record the results in Data Table 5.
Calculate the theoretical torque provided by the spring scale using the equilibrium equation and the torque provided by the weight of the ruler from Data Table 5. Record the result in Data Table 5.
Calculate the percent error between the torque provided by the spring scale and the theoretical torque provided by the spring scale using the equation:
% Error=|τtheory−τexp|/|τtheory|×100%
Record the calculated percent error to 0.1% in Data Table 5.
Part 4: Equilibrium with the Center of Mass and Spring Scale at an Angle
Copy the mass of the ruler from Data Table 4 to Data Table 6.
Check that the long support string is still attached firmly to the ruler at the 10.0 cm mark, which is still the pivot point x0, and that the string connected to the spring scale is still firmly attached to the ruler at the 25.0 cm mark.
Pull the spring scale to the right until the string and spring scale make a 60° angle with the ruler, measured counter-clockwise from the ruler. Use the protractor and record the angle to 0.1° in Data Table 6.
Record the reading on the spring scale to 0.5 g in Data Table 6.
Use the protractor to measure the angle of the support string at the pivot point in a clockwise manner starting at the ruler. Record the result to 0.1° in Data Table 6.
Record the angle the ruler makes with the horizontal direction as the angle of the center of mass to 0.1° in Data Table 6.
Calculate the perpendicular component of the force provided by the spring scale on the ruler using the equation:
Fy=Fnetsinθ=mgsinθ
Note: m = mass reading from spring scale (kg), g = 9.81 m/s^2, the acceleration due to gravity, and θ = angle measured from the ruler to the spring scale (°).
Record the calculated force, including the sign, to three significant figures in Data Table 6.
Repeat the force calculation steps for the mass of the ruler located at the center of mass of the ruler.
Calculate the perpendicular component of the force of the support string at the pivot point, Fpivot,y, using the equilibrium equation:
Fnet,y=0=Fpivot,y+FCM,y+Fscale,y
Record the calculated force including the sign to three significant figures in Data Table 6.
Calculate the horizontal component of the spring scale force and the weight of the ruler at the center of mass, Fscale, x and FCM, x, using the equation:
Fx=Fcosθ
Record the calculated forces, including the signs, in Data Table 6.
Calculate the horizontal component of the force of the support string at the pivot point, Fpivot,x, using the equilibrium equation modified for the horizontal direction. Record the result in Data Table 6.
Calculate the magnitude of the total force of the weight of the ruler at the center of mass using the Pythagorean Theorem:
Fnet^2=Fx^2+Fy^2
Record the calculated force to three significant figures in Data Table 6.
Calculate the torque on the ruler at the pivot point due to the weight of the ruler using the torque equation, the perpendicular component of the force, and the radial distance recorded in Data Table 5. Record the result in Data Table 6.
Repeat the calculation steps for the spring scale force and the force of the support string at the pivot point.