Torque Experiment

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course Phy 231

3/16 12:45pm

Rod supported by doubled rubber band, pulled down by two rubber bandsSetup

The setup is illustrated in the figure below. The large square represents the one-foot square piece of plywood, the black line represents

the threaded rod, and there are six crude-looking hooks representing the hooks you will make by unbending and re-bending paper clips. The

red lines indicate rubber bands. The board is lying flat on a tabletop. (If you don't have the threaded rod, you can use the 15-cm ramp in

its place. Or you can simply use a pencil, preferably a new one because a longer object will give you better results than a short one. If

you don't have the plywood and push pins, you can use the cardboard and 'staples' made from paper clips, as suggested in the Forces

experiment.)

The top rubber band is attached by one hook to the top of the plywood square and by another hook to the approximate center of the rod. We

will consider the top of the square to represent the upward direction, so that the rod is considered to be suspended from the top rubber

band and its hook.

Two rubber bands pull down on the rod, to which they are attached by paper clips. These two rubber bands should be parallel to the vertical

lines on your grid. The lower hooks are fixed by two push pins, which are not shown, but which stretch the rubber bands to appropriate

lengths, as specified later.

The rubber band supporting the rod from the top of the square should in fact consist of 2 rubber bands with each rubber band stretched

between the hooks (each rubber band is touching the top hook, as well as the bottom hook; the rubber bands aren't 'chained' together).

torque_experiment_setup.gif (2724 bytes)

The rubber bands will be referred to by the labels indicated in the figure below. Between the two hooks at the top the rubber band pair

stretched between these notes will be referred to as A; the rubber band near the left end of the threaded rod will be referred to as B; and

the rubber band to the right of the center of the rod as C.

In your setup rubber band B should be located as close as possible to the left-hand end of the threaded rod. Rubber band C should be

located approximately halfway, perhaps a little more, from the supporting hook near the center to the right-hand end of the rod. That is,

the distance from B to A should be about double the distance from A to C.

Rubber band C should be stretched to the length at which it supported 10 dominoes (in the calibration experiment), while rubber band B

should be adjusted so that the rod remains horizontal, parallel to the horizontal grid lines.

(If there isn't room on the plywood to achieve this setup:

First be sure that the longer dimension of the plywood is directed 'up-and-down' as opposed to 'right-and-left'.

Be sure you have two rubber bands stretched between those top hooks.

If that doesn't help, re-bend the paper clips to shorten your 'hooks'.

If the system still doesn't fit, then you can reduce the length to that required to support a smaller number of dominoes (e.g., 8

dominoes and if that doesn't work, 6 dominoes).

torque_experiment_labeling_of_rubber_bands.gif (2366 bytes)

Data and Analysis: Mark points, determine forces and positions

Mark points indicating the two ends of each rubber band. Mark for each rubber band the point where its force is applied to the rod; this

will be where the hook crosses the rod. Your points will be much like the points on the figure below. The vertical lines indicate the

vertical direction of the forces, and the horizontal line represents the rod.

torque_experiment_lines_sketched.gif (1966 bytes)

Disassemble the system, sketch the lines indicating the directions of the forces and the rod (as shown in the above figure). Make the

measurements necessary to determine the length of each rubber band, and also measure the position on the rod at which each force is

applied.

You can measure the position at which each force is applied with respect to any point on the rod. For example, you might measure

positions from the left end of your horizontal line. In the above figure, for example, the B force might be applied at 3 cm from the left

end of the line, the A force at 14 cm from the left end of the line, and the C force at 19 cm from the left end.

indicate the following:

In the first line, give the positions of the three points where the vertical lines intersect the horizontal line, in order from left to

right.

In the second line give the lengths of the rubber band systems B, A and C, in that order.

In the third line give the forces, in Newtons, exerted by the rubber band systems, in the same order as before.

In the fourth line specify which point was used as reference point in reporting the three positions given in the first line. That is,

those three positions were measured relative to some fixed reference point; what was the reference point?

Starting in the fifth line, explain how the forces, in Newtons, were obtained from your calibration graphs.

Beginning in the sixth line, briefly explain what your results mean and how you obtained them.

******** ******** Your answer (start in the next line):

.32cm, 7.71cm, 11.26cm

8.53cm, 9.49cm, 6.89cm

1.95N, 4.70N, 2.59N

Measured from left-most end of threaded rod

First, I multiplied the lengths I measured for the rubber bands in this lab by 1.5, because I used a singly-reduced ruler for the

calibration lab. Then I consulted the best-fit curves for each rubber band's length vs. force relationship, as determined by the data I

found on the calibration lab. I looked at today's (adjusted) lengths, and determined at which point on that best-fit curve today's length

would lie, and what Force is associated with that length. This told me the Force, in N, I should expect that each band is exerting in

today's set-up. For Band A (really my Bands 3 and 4, together, I added the force for Band 3 at today's measured length to the force for

Band 4 at today's measured length).

These results indicate the total forces at work on the threaded rod, and the positions at which those forces are applied.

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----->>>>>>>> (note A doubled) intersections B A C, lengths B A C, forces B A C, reference point, how forces determined

Analyze results:

Vertical equilibrium: Determine whether the forces are in vertical equilibrium by adding the forces to obtain the net force, using + signs

on upward forces and - signs on downward forces.

Give your result for the net force in the first line below.

In the second line, give your net force as a percent of the sum of the magnitudes of the forces of all three rubber band systems.

Beginning in the third line, briefly explain what your results mean and how you obtained them.

******** Your answer (start in the next line):

Fnet=-1.95N+4.70N-2.59N=.16N

1.7%

The sum of the forces as determined by the graphs is .16N. The sum of their magnitude is 9.24N; .16 is about 1.7% of 9.24. Therefore, our

results differ from vertical equilibrium by about 1.7%.

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----->>>>>>>> Fnet, Fnet % of sum(F)

Rotational equilibrium: We will regard the position of the central supporting hook (the hook for system A) to be the fulcrum around which

the rod tends to rotate. Determine the distance from this fulcrum to the point of application of the force from rubber band B. This

distance is called the moment-arm of that force. Do the same for the rubber band at C.

report the moment-arm for the force exerted by the rubber band system B, then the moment-arm for the system C. Beginning in the second

line, briefly explain what the numbers mean and how you obtained them.

******** Your answer (start in the next line):

7.39cm, 3.50cm

Distance from central hook to points of application for Band B and Band C, respectively.

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----->>>>>>>> moment arms for B, C

Make an accurate scale-model sketch of the forces acting on the rod, similar to the one below. Locate the points of application of your

forces at the appropriate points on the rod. Use a scale of 4 cm to 1 Newton for your forces, and sketch the horizontal rod at its actual

length.

torque_experiment_force_vectors_first_setup.gif (1720 bytes)

Give in the first line the lengths in cm of the vectors representing the forces exerted by systems B, A and C, in that order, in

comma-delimited format.

In the second line give the distances from the fulcrum to the points of application of the two 'downward' forces, giving the distance

from the fulcrum to the point of application of force B then the distance from the fulcrum to the point of application of. force C in

comma-delimited format, in the given order.

Beginning in the third line, briefly explain what the numbers mean and how you obtained them.

******** Your answer (start in the next line):

7.8cm, 18.8cm, 10.36cm

7.39cm, 3.50cm

Lengths, in cm, of 3 representative vectors for Force B, A, and C, followed by distances of points of application for Force B and C from

fulcrum.

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----->>>>>>>> (4 cm to 1 Newton scale) lengths of force vectors B, A, C, distances of B and C from fulcrum

The force from rubber band C will tend to rotate the rod in a clockwise direction. This force is therefore considered to produce a

clockwise torque, or 'turning force', on the rubber band. A clockwise torque is considered to be negative; the clockwise direction is

considered to be the negative direction and the counterclockwise direction to be positive.

When the force is exerted in a direction perpendicular to the rod, as is the case here, the torque is equal in magnitude to the product of

the moment-arm and the force.

What is the torque of the force exerted by rubber band C about the point of suspension, i.e., about the point we have chosen for our

fulcrum?

Find the torque produced by rubber band B about the point of suspension.

Report your torques , giving the torque produced by rubber band B then the torque produced by the rubber band C, in that order. Be sure to

indicate whether each is positive (+) or negative (-). Beginning in the next line, briefly explain what your results mean and how you

obtained them.

******** Your answer (start in the next line):

57.64Ncm, -36.26Ncm

Torque of Band B and C, found by multiplying moment-arm of each (negative in the case of Band B) by force vector of each.

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----->>>>>>>> torque C, torque B

Ideally the sum of the torques should be zero. Due to experimental uncertainties and to errors in measurement it is unlikely that your

result will actually give you zero net torque.

Express the calculated net torque--i.e, the sum of the torques you have found--as a percent of the sum of the magnitudes of these

torques.

Give your calculated net torque in the first line below, your net torque as a percent of the sum of the magnitudes in the second line, and

explain starting at the third line how you obtained this result. Beginning in the fourth line, briefly explain what your results mean and

how you obtained them.

******** Your answer (start in the next line):

21.38

22.7%

Calculated net torque, and percent of sum of magnitudes of calculated torque.

Net torque found by adding Torque B to Torque C, percent found by divided net torque by sum of magnitudes of Torque B and C.

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----->>>>>>>> tau_net, and as % of sum(tau)

Physics 121 students may stop here. Phy 121 students are not required to do the remaining two parts of this experiment, but may do so if

they wish.

Simulating Forces and Torques on a Bridge

The figure below represents a bridge extended between supports at its ends, represented by the small triangles, and supporting two

arbitrary weights at arbitrary positions (i.e., the weights could be anything, and they could be at any location).

The weights of the objects act downward, as indicated by the red vectors in the figure. The supports at the ends of the bridge hold the

bridge up by exerting upward forces, represented by the upward blue vectors.

If the bridge is in equilibrium, then two conditions must hold:

1. The total of the two upward forces will have the same magnitude as the total of the two downward forces. This is the conditional of

translational equilibrium. That is, the bridge has no acceleration in either the upward or the downward direction.

2. The bridge has no angular acceleration about any axis. Specifically it doesn't rotate about the left end, it doesn't rotate about

the right end, and it doesn't rotate about either of the masses.

wpe1A.jpg (3628 bytes)

Setup

We simulate a bridge with the setup indicated below. As in Part I the system is set up with the plywood square, and with a 1-cm grid on

top of the plywood.

The threaded rod will be supported (i.e., prevented from moving toward the bottom of the board) by two push pins, and two stretched

rubber bands will apply forces analogous to the gravitational forces on two weights supported by the bridge.

Stretch one rubber band to the length at which it supported 8 dominoes in the calibration experiment, and call this rubber band B.

Stretch the other to the length that supported 4 dominoes and call this rubber band C. Rubber band C should be twice as far from its end

of the rod as rubber band B is from its end, approximately as shown below.

Use push pins (now shown) to fix the ends of the hooks and keep the rubber bands stretched.

Note that the length of the threaded rod might be greater than the width of the board, though this probably won't occur. If it does

occur, it won't cause a serious problem--simply place the push pins as far as is easily feasible from the ends and allow a little overlap

of the rod at both ends.

Be sure the rubber bands are both 'vertical'--running along the vertical lines of the grid. It should be clear that the push pins are

each exerting a force toward the top of the board.

wpe8.jpg (3903 bytes)

Place two more rubber bands, with the hooks at the positions of the push pins, as indicated below. Stretch these rubber bands out

simultaneously until their combined forces and torques just barely begin to pull the rod away from the push pins supporting it. Fix push

pins through the free-end hooks, so that the two new rubber bands support the rod just above the push pins supporting it, as close to the

supporting pins as possible.

Remove the supporting pins. This should have no effect on the position of the rod, which should now be supported in its original position

by the two new rubber bands.

wpe9.jpg (4203 bytes)

Mark the ends of each of the four rubber bands, and also the position of the rod. Your marks should be sufficient to later construct the

following picture:

wpe1.jpg (4717 bytes)

Now pull down to increase the length of the rubber band C to the length at which that rubber band supported the weight of 10 dominoes, and

use a push pin to fix its position.

This will cause the lengths of the rubber bands A, B and D to also change. The rod will now lie in a different position than before,

probably at some nonzero angle with horizontal.

Mark the position of the rod and the positions of the ends of the four rubber bands, in a manner similar to that used in the previous

picture. Be sure to distinguish these marks from those made before.

Analyze your results

The figure below indicates the first set of markings for the ends of the rubber bands, indicated by dots, and the line along which the

force of each rubber band acts. The position of the rod is indicated by the horizontal line. The force lines intersect the rod at points

A, B, C and D, indicated by x's on the rod.

wpe1.jpg (4717 bytes)

From your markings determine, for the first setup, the length of each rubber band and, using the appropriate calibration graphs or

functions, find the force in Newtons exerted by each.

Sketch a diagram, to scale, depicting the force vectors acting on the rod. Use a scale of 1 N = 4 cm. Label each force with its magnitude

in Newtons, as indicated in the figure. Also label for each force the distance along the rod to its point of application, as measured

relative to the position of the leftmost force.

In the figure shown here the leftmost force would be the 2.4 N force; its distance from itself is 0 and isn't labeled. The 5 cm, 15 cm and

23 cm distances of the other forces from the leftmost force are labeled.

wpe3.jpg (5662 bytes)

For the first setup (before pulling down to increase the force at C), give the forces, their distances from equilibrium and their torques,

in comma-delimited format with one torque to a line. Give lines in the order A, B, C and D. Be sure your torques are positive if

counterclockwise, negative if clockwise. Beginning in the following line, briefly explain what your results mean and how you obtained

them.

******** Your answer (start in the next line):

1.1, .5, .55

-1.52, 1.8, -2.736

-.76, 11.75, -8.93

.82, 14.5, 11.89

Force (in N), distance from left-most point (in cm), and torque for Bands A, B, C, and D. Force calculated by multplying measured length

of band by 1.5 to comply with singly-reduced ruler with which I created my calibration graph, then finding position on best-fit force vs.

length curve from that lab. Torque calculated by multiplying force by distance from equilibrium

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----->>>>>>>> (ABCD left to right, position wrt A) four forces, four dist, four torques

In the figure shown above the sum of all the vertical forces is 2.4 N + 2.0 N - 3.2 N - 1.6 N = 4.4 N - 4.8 N = -.4 N. Is this an accurate

depiction of the forces that actually acted on the rod? Why or why not?

In the first line give the sum of all the vertical forces in your diagram. This is the resultant of all your forces.

In the second line, describe your picture and its meaning, and how well you think the picture depicts the actual system..

******** Your answer (start in the next line):

-.36N

This is somewhat close to the expected result of vertical equilibrium (0N net vertical force required for no vertical movement). My

picture is similar, proportionally speaking, to the one above. The left-most bands are exerting greater force than the right-most bands

(Band C is exerting least of all).

This is not a completely accurate picture of what is happening to the rod, which is at rest. A resultant force other than zero ought to be

accompanied by an acceleration of the system.

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----->>>>>>>> (from scaled picture) sum of vert forces, describe picture and meaning

In the figure shown above the 1.6 N force produces a clockwise torque about the leftmost force (about position A), a torque of 1.6 N * 15

cm = 24 N cm. Being clockwise this torque is -24 N cm. The 2.0 N force at 23 cm produces a clockwise torque of 2.0 N * 23 cm = 26 N cm.

Being counterclockwise this torque is +26 N cm.

In the first line below give the net torque produced by the forces as shown in this figure. Beginning in the second line describe your

picture and discuss whether it could be an accurate depiction of torques actually acting on a stationary rod. Support your discussion with

reasons.

******** Your answer (start in the next line):

6Ncm

Net torque as calculated in this example. This could not be quite accurate, or the system would be rotating in the counterclockwise

direction around position A.

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----->>>>>>>> net torque from given picture, describe your picture

Now calculate your result

What is the sum for your diagram of the torques about the point of action of the leftmost force (i.e., about position A)? This is your

experimentally observed resultant torque about A. Give your result in the first line below.

For your diagram what is the magnitude of your resultant force and what is the sum of the magnitudes of all the forces acting on the

rod? Give these results in the second line in comma-delimited format.

Give the magnitude of your resultant force as a percent of the sum of the magnitudes of all the forces. Give this result in the third

line.

For your diagram what is the magnitude of your resultant torque and what is the sum of the magnitudes of all the torques acting on the

rod? Give these two results, and the magnitude of your resultant torque as a percent of the sum of the magnitudes of all the torques, as

three numbers in your comma-delimited fourth line.

Beginning in the fifth line, briefly explain what your results mean and how you obtained them.

******** Your answer (start in the next line):

.774Ncm

-.36N, 4.2N

8.6%

.774Ncm, 24.1Ncm, 3.2%

Sum of torques about Position A; calculated resultant force, sum of magnitudes of forces; resultant force as percent of sum of magnitude of

forces; magnitude of resultant torque, sum of magnitudes of all torques, resultant torque as percent of sum of magnitudes of all torques.

Torques calculated by mulitplying calculated forces by measured distance from leftmost point (position A).

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----->>>>>>>> sum(tau) about A, Fnet and sum(F), Fnet % of sum(F), | tau_net |, sum | tau |, |tau_net| % of sum|tau|

Perform a similar analysis for the second setup (in which you increased the pull at C) and give your results below:

For your diagram, what is the sum of the torques about the point of action of the leftmost force (i.e., about position A)? This is your

experimentally observed resultant torque about A. Give your result in the first line below.

For your diagram what is the magnitude of your resultant force and what is the sum of the magnitudes of all the forces acting on the

rod? Give these results in the second line in comma-delimited format.

Give the magnitude of your resultant force as a percent of the sum of the magnitudes of all the forces. Give this result in the third

line.

For your diagram what is the magnitude of your resultant torque and what is the sum of the magnitudes of all the torques acting on the

rod? Give these two results, and the magnitude of your resultant torque as a percent of the sum of the magnitudes of all the torques, as

three numbers in your comma-delimited fourth line.

Beginning in the fifth line, briefly explain what your results mean and how you obtained them.

******** Your answer (start in the next line):

8.376Ncm

.45N, 6.21N

7.2%

8.376Ncm, 56.554Ncm, 14.8%

Sum of torques about Position A; calculated resultant force, sum of magnitudes of forces; resultant force as percent of sum of magnitude of

forces; magnitude of resultant torque, sum of magnitudes of all torques, resultant torque as percent of sum of magnitudes of all torques.

Torques calculated by mulitplying calculated forces by measured distance from leftmost point (position A).

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----->>>>>>>> (pull at C incr) sum(tau) about A, Fnet and sum(F), Fnet % of sum(F), | tau_net |, sum | tau |, |tau_net| % of sum|tau|

For the second setup, the forces were clearly different, and the rod was not completely horizontal. The angles of the forces were therefore

not all 90 degrees, though it is likely that they were all reasonably close to 90 degrees.

Look at your diagram for the second setup. You might want to quickly trace the lines of force and the line representing the rod onto a

second sheet of paper so you can see clearly the directions of the forces relative to the rod.

In the first setup, the forces all acted in the vertical direction, while this may not be the case in this setup.

In the second setup, were the forces all parallel to one another? If not, by about how many degrees would you estimate they vary?

Include a brief explanation of what your response means and how you made your estimates.

******** Your answer (start in the next line):

The forces are all close to parallel-- within a couple of degrees-- to each other, but not perpendicular to the rod.

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----->>>>>>>> (incr pull at C) variation of forces from parallel

Estimate the angles made by the lines of force with the rod in the second setup, and give your angles in comma-delimited format in the

first line below. Your angles will all likely be close to 90 degrees, but they probably won't all be 90 degrees. The easiest way to

estimate is to estimate the deviation from 90 degrees; e.g., if you estimate a deviation of 5 degrees then you would report an angle of 85

degrees. Recall that you estimated angles in the rotation of a strap experiment.

Starting in the second line give a short statement indicating how you made your estimates and how accurate you think your estimates were.

******** Your answer (start in the next line):

Band A is still at 90 degrees. Band B is at just barely above 90 degrees, perhaps 92 degrees. Band C is at around 87 degrees, and Band D

is around 93 degrees.

#$&*

----->>>>>>>> angles of lines of force with rod

Torques Produced by Forces Not at Right Angles to the Rod

Setup and Measurement

Set up a system as illustrated below.

As in our very first setup, the 'top' rubber band will in fact consist of two rubber bands in parallel.

The leftmost rubber band will remain vertical, while the rightmost rubber band will be oriented at a significant angle with vertical

(at least 30 degrees).

The rightmost rubber band will be stretched to a length at which it supports the weight of 10 dominoes, and its point of attachment

will be at least a few centimeters closer to that of the center rubber band than will the leftmost rubber band.

The leftmost rubber band will be stretched to the length at which it supports 8 dominoes.

wpe5.jpg (4063 bytes)

Mark the ends of the rubber bands, the points at which the forces are exerted on the central axis of the rod, and the position of the

central axis of the rod.

Measure the positions of the ends of the rubber bands:

Disassemble the system and draw an x and a y axis, with the origin somewhere below and to the left all of your marks.

Measure the positions of the ends of the rubber bands. Measure both the x and y coordinate of each of these positions, and measure each

coordinate in centimeters.

Give in the first line below the x and y coordinates of the ends of the leftmost rubber band, which we will call rubber band system B.

Give four numbers in comma-delimited format, the first being the x and y coordinates of the lower end, the second being the x and y

coordinates of the upper end. All measurements should be in cm.

In the second line give the same information for the two-rubber-band system above the rod, which we will call system A.

In the third line give the same information for the rightmost rubber band which we will call system C.

Beginning in the fourth line, briefly explain what your results mean and how you obtained them.

******** Your answer (start in the next line):

3, 1.85; 3, 10.35

9.2, 14.5; 7.6, 23.85

18.4, 3.7; 15.9, 9.8

With origin at far lower left, endpoints (bottom to top) of system B, A, and C, in cm.

:

#$&*

----->>>>>>>> (BAC) endpts of B, endpts of A, endpts of C

Analysis

Using your coordinates and the Pythagorean Theorem, find the length of rubber band system B.

Do this by first finding the difference in the x coordinates of the ends of this band, then the difference in the y coordinates of the

ends.

This gives you the lengths of the legs of a right triangle whose hypotenuse is equal to the length of the band.

Then using your calibration information find the force in Newtons exerted this system.

Do the same for systems A and C.

Give the length and force exerted by rubber band system B in the first line below, in comma-delimited format, then in the second and third

lines give the same information for systems A and C. Starting in the fourth line give a brief description of what your results mean and how

you obtained them.

******** Your answer (start in the next line):

8.5, 1.63

9.48, 3.94

6.6, 1.93

Lengths of band systems B, A, and C in cm, as calculated by Pythagorean theorem using difference in x and y values of endpoints. Multiplied by 1.5 to correspond with my calibration on singly-reduced ruler, then consulted best-fit graph for Newton-to-length values for each rubber band (System A is sum of Bands 3 and 4; added approximate value of Newtons for each at that length).

#$&*

----->>>>>>>> length and force of B, of A, of C

Find the sine and the cosine of each angle with horizontal:

You earlier found the lengths of the x and y legs of the triangle whose hypotenuse was the length of rubber band system A.

The magnitude of the sine of the angle for the system the y component divided by the hypotenuse, i.e., the ratio of the y component to

the hypotenuse. The sine is negative if the y component downward, positive if the y component is upward.

The magnitude of the cosine of the angle for the system the x component divided by the hypotenuse, i.e., the ratio of the x component

to the hypotenuse. The cosine is negative if the x component is to the left, positive if the x component is to the right.

Find the sine and cosine for this system.

Using the same method find the sine and the cosine for system B and system C. Ideally system B will be acting vertically, so the cosine

will be 0 and the sine will be 1; your measurements might or might not indicate a slight divergence from this ideal.

Report your results , giving in each line the sine and the cosine of the angle between the line of action of the force and the horizontal.

Report lines in the order B, then A, then C. Beginning in the fourth line, briefly explain what your results mean and how you obtained

them.

******** Your answer (start in the next line):

1, 0

.66, -.11

.92, -.39

Sine and cosine of angle of systems B, A, and C, with respect to the horizontal. Calculated by dividing y and x components (respectively) by the length of the hypotenuse (total stretch of system).

#$&*

----->>>>>>>> sin and cos of angle w horiz of B, A, C

Find the angles of the force vectors with the horizontal, and the angles of the force vectors in the plane:

The angle of the force vector with horizontal is arcTan(y / x): the arctangent of the magnitude of the quantity you get with you divide

the y component of the triangle used in the preceding, by the x component.

The arctangent is easily calculated using the 2d fn or inverse key on your calculator, along with the tan function.

The angle of the force vector in the plane is measured from the positive x axis, in the counterclockwise direction.

Give for each system the magnitude (i.e., the force in Newtons as you calculated it earlier), the angle with the x axis and the angle in

the plane for each of the force vectors, reporting three comma-delimited lines in the order B, A and C. Starting in the fourth line briefly

explain how you determined these values and how you obtained them:

******** Your answer (start in the next line):

1.63, 90, 270

3.94, 80.3, 99.7

1.93, 66.9, 293.1

Magnitude, in N, of each system (determined by consulting best-fit curve from earlier calibration of length to N); angle of system with x axis (calculated with arctan using x and y components) and within the plane as measured counterclockwise from positive x axis (for negative x, subtracted angle from 180; for negative x and y, subtracted angle from 360).

#$&*

----->>>>>>>> magnitude and angle of B, of A, of C

Sketch a force diagram showing the forces acting on the rubber bands, using a scale of 1 N = 4 cm. Label the positions at which the forces

act on the rod, the magnitude in Newtons of each force and the angle of each force as measured counterclockwise from the positive x axis

(assume that the x axis is directed toward the right).

wpe5.jpg (4594 bytes)

Find the components of each force:

Sketch the x and y components of each force vector, measure them and using the scale of your graph convert them back to forces. Then

using the magnitude of the force and sine and cosine as found earlier, calculate each x and y component.

wpe6.jpg (5164 bytes)

In the second line below you will report the x and y components of your sketch of vector A, the x and y components of the force of this

system as calculated from the x and y components on your sketch, and the x and y components as calculated from the magnitude, sine and

cosine. Report six numbers in this line, in comma-delimited format.

In the first line report the same information for vector B, and in the third line the same information for vector C.

Beginning in the fourth line, briefly explain what your results mean and how you obtained them.

******** Your answer (start in the next line):

0, -6.52; 0, -1.63; 0, -1.63

3.4, 15.3; -.85, 3.83; -.66, 3.88

2.9, -7.2; .73, -1.8; .76, -1.78

With position of rod as x-axis, x and y components of vectors B, A, and C, in cm on scaled sketch; x and y components in Newtons, as calculated on 4N:1cm scale; x and y components in Newtons as calculated by sine and cosine

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----->>>>>>>> comp of sketch, implied comp of force, comp calculated from mag and angle B, A, C

Calculate the sum of the x components and of the y components, as determined by the magnitude, sine and cosine.

What is the sum of all your x components? What should be the sum of all the x components? How close is your sum to the ideal? Report as

three numbers in comma-delimited format in line 1.

What is the sum of all your y components? What should be the sum of all the y components? How close is your sum to the ideal? Report as

three numbers in comma-delimited format in line 2.

Beginning in the third line, briefly explain what your results mean and how you obtained them.

******** Your answer (start in the next line):

.1, 0, .1

.47, 0, .47

Calculated net horizontal force, in N, based on sum of all components calculated using sines and cosines; actual net horizontal force, in N, based on system at rest; difference of two results (followed by same for vertical components).

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----->>>>>>>> sum of your x comp, actual sum, how close to ideal x, then y

The torque produced by a force acting on the rod is produced by only the component perpendicular to the rod. The component parallel to the

rod has no rotational effect.

give in comma-delimited format a line for each force, indicating the distance of its point of action from that of the leftmost force, its

component perpendicular to the rod, and its torque. The order of the lines should be B, A then C. Remember that torques should be reported

as positive or negative.

Beginning in the fourth line, briefly explain what your results mean and how you obtained them.

******** Your answer (start in the next line):

0, -1.63, 0

6.6, 3.88, 25.6

12, -1.78, -21.36

Distance from leftmost force (in cm), vertical component of force (in N), torque (in Ncm), for systems B, A, and C. Measured distance, vertical component of force calculated using total magnitude of force and sine of angle of force, torque calculated by multiplying vertical force by distance from leftmost force.

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----->>>>>>>> (about B) dist from ref, perpendicular comp, torque for B, for A, for C

Finally report the sum of your torques:

What is the sum of the torques about the point of action of the leftmost force? What should this sum be? How close is your sum to the

ideal? Report as three numbers in comma-delimited format in line 1. Beginning in the second line, briefly explain what your results mean

and how you obtained them.

******** Your answer (start in the next line):

4.24, 0, 4.24

Calculated sum of torques based on determining vertical components of all forces using magnitude of force and sine of angle; actual sum of torques based on system being at rest, difference between calculated and actual torque. This indicates that there was some experimental error, most likely in my original calibration graph (as I consistently have inaccuracies despite taking extremely careful measurements).

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----->>>>>>>> sum of torques, ideal sum, how close to ideal

Your instructor is trying to gauge the typical time spent by students on these experiments. Please answer the following question as

accurately as you can, understanding that your answer will be used only for the stated purpose and has no bearing on your grades:

Approximately how long did it take you to complete this experiment?

******** Your answer (start in the next line):

At least 7 hours. I did have to repeat several segments, either because of issues that couldn't be anticipated (constructing the majority of the setup and then realizing a portion wouldn't fit on the board, so I'd have to move the whole thing), or carelessness (I misunderstood the 4N:1cm scale sketch, and needed to do that whole portion again), or finding a calculation error that carried through several steps but I didn't catch it right away. But this was by far the most time-consuming lab of the semester to this point. It did work very well at helping me understand how I was flawed in my thinking about torques on a recent assignment, and now I feel like I have a very good handle on how distance from a central point influences the way a force is applied.

#$&*

@&

Excellent work.

Fortunately there are only a couple of time-consuming labs remaining.

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