PHYS 1 SUNY Empire State College Center of Mass Lab Report 8 Hello,I was wondering if anyone would be able to help me with my physics lab? It involves cent

PHYS 1 SUNY Empire State College Center of Mass Lab Report 8 Hello,I was wondering if anyone would be able to help me with my physics lab? It involves center of mass. This lab requires a few sentences for intro, abstract, and conclusions. There is a data table and a few questions. Attached is the assignment. Thank you Lab Assignment 8: Center of Mass
Instructor’s Overview
Have you ever recovered when you began to slip on ice? Your body goes into a type of
autopilot state to maintain balance. Most people can’t remember precisely all of the
movements that were executed. The human body instinctively wants to stay upright and
the seemingly wild motions that take place in a recovery of balance are performed to
keep the center of mass within the base of the person. Other examples of the
management of center-of-mass include the following:
•
•
•
•
Bicycle riders tucking as they enter a tight corner turn
Sumo wrestlers vying for dominance in the ring by keeping low to the ground
Squirrels using their tails as counterbalance mechanisms
Two celestial objects rotating about their mutual center-of-mass
In this lab, you will directly experiment with the concept of center-of-mass.
This activity is based on Lab 12 of the eScience Lab kit. Although you should read all of
the content in Lab 12, we will be performing a targeted subset of the eScience
experiments.
Our lab consists of two main components. These components are described in detail in
the eScience manual. Here is a quick overview:
• eScience Experiment 2: In the first part of the lab, you will determine the angle
at which certain objects become unstable.
• eScience Experiment 4: In the second part of the lab, you will experimentally
determine the center-of-mass of an irregularly shaped object.
Take detailed notes as you perform the experiment
and fill out the sections below. This document
serves as your lab report. Please include detailed
descriptions of your experimental methods and
observations.
Experiment Tips:
eScience Experiment 2
• Do not use a large mass on the string. A
significant mass results in a torque on the
block system. I used a paperclip in my
experiment.
• You may consider setting the block-string
system on a cardboard platform. This allows you to see the location of the string
relative to the base of the blocks. A partner can help you measure the angle of the
cardboard support at the point of instability.
• Make sure that your irregular shape is cut out of cardboard.
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• You may want to also experiment with a regular shape (e.g. square or rectangle) as a
control object to convince yourself of the validity of the experiment.
Date:
Student:
Abstract
Introduction
From esciencelabs:
Center of mass is the point in space where all the mass of an object balances. No matter what the object’s shape or how it is moving, the center
of mass moves, as if all the mass of the object were concentrated at that point.
Experiment 1 – stability of a tower of blocks.
In this experiment, you will test the stability of a stack of
blocks as the angle of the surface the stack rests on
gradually increases. Using a fishing sinker tied to the center of mass, you will be able to
see the position of the center of mass relative to the base of the object as it begins to tip
over.
Procedure:
1. Mark the location of the center of gravity on one side of a wooden block with a piece
of masking tape (the middle).
2. Using masking tape, attach one block above and below your original so that your
center of gravity mark is visible, making a 3-block-high tower.
3. Use a ruler to measure and cut 30 cm. of string. Tape the string to the mark on the
middle block with 20 cm hanging downward.
4. Attach a sinker to the end of the string. Set the block stack on top of the ramp, and line
the edge of the ramp runway up with the edge of a table so that the string can dangle.
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5. Increase the incline of the ramp runway, and notice the relationship between when the
block stack starts to tip over and the location of the string. Record your observations in
Table 1.
6. Try this out with four blocks stacked. Make sure to move your center of mass to the
middle of the tower (between the second and third blocks). Record your observations in
Table 1.
Note: plumb line is
until the plumb line
taped to side at midthe stack of blocks
Section.
be as far as you can go
Measure angle of plumb
Tilt the blocks
line to edge of base.
is at the edge of
This should
Without
tipping over. Measure
The angle
of the stack bottom to
the table.
It should be the same as
the angle
the plump line makes to
the center
line.
Tilt a little
more. Does the stack
fall over?
Now do the same for a stack of FOUR blocks with a plumb line again at the midsection
of the now larger stack. Compare the angle of the four-block stack with that of the threeblock stack. Which angle is smaller? What does this mean in practical terms?
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Physics I
Table 1 – block observations
Block Arrangement
Observations
Three blocks stacked
Four blocks stacked
Results
Based on your results from the experiments, please answer the following questions:
Block experiments
1. When did the blocks typically fall over?
2. Which stack of blocks (3 or 4) had a lower center of mass? Which set tipped over at
the largest angle?
3. If you were building a skyscraper in a windy city, where would you want most of the
building’s weight to be located?
4. Consider the following diagram of the three-block system at the point of instability:
CM
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This question involves a calculation, not a measurement.
When you calculate the angle of instability, consider this fact:
The angle of instability occurs when the vertical projection of the center-of-mass
(the plumb line) just meets the edge of the base of the object.
Consider using the trigonometric identity:
tan θ = side opposite / side adjacent.
Calculate the angle of instability of the system for the 3-block system using ratios with
the variable S for the length of a side.
Hint: start with the tangent of θ. You should be able to have the S variable cancel.
Then take the arctan (tan -1).
Angle of instability (θ) =
Repeat this calculation for the four-block system.
Angle of instability (θ) =
How does your result compare to the three-block system? Explain.
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Experiment 2.
Center-of-mass experiments
Procedure
1. Use the scissors to cut an irregular shape out of a piece of paper. Any shape will work!
2. Cut a 30-cm length of string and tie one metal washer to each
end. This will function as a “plumb-bob” that hangs down as a
vertical line.
3. Set one side of the physics kit box flush with the edge of a table and stick a push pin in
the cardboard near the top (Figure 6), page 165 of the escience manual.
4. Punch a hole in three different spots around the edge of the shape, but not too close
together.
5. Hang the shape through one of the three holes on the push pin making sure the shape
can move freely.
6. Hook the plumb-bob to the push pin with the washer.
7. Note how the string hangs across the shape. Make a mark on the side of the shape
opposite the hole in line with the plumb-bob string. Use this mark to draw a straight line
through the shape, from the hole to
your mark.
8. Take the shape and plumb-bob off the pin, and switch to a new hole on the shape.
Repeat Steps 5 – 7 until you have three lines drawn on the shape
1. When you hang the shape from the pin, it balances around that point. How is the mass
distributed on either side of the lines you draw when it is hanging like this?
2. What does the point where the three lines intersect represent? Explain why this
method works.
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3. Is the third line necessary to find the center of mass? Why or why not?
Hint: I suggest you look up some information on radio triangulation.
Conclusions
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