Hanging Mass and Cart Lab Write Up

d = 0.275 +- 0.01

Conclusions:

How do the predicted velocity and the measured velocity compare in each case? Did your measurements agree with your initial prediction? If not, why? 

Our measurement were very similar to our predicted valued that was calculated. With a roughly 8% difference between the two numbers. The difference became more noticeable as the weight of the hanging mass increased. When the mass of the car changed the measured values had a slightly larger deviations.

Does the launch velocity of the car depend on its mass? The mass of the block? The distance the block falls? Is there a choice of distance and block mass for which the mass of the car does not make much difference to its launch velocity?

Yes, the launch velocity is proportional to the car's mass. A heavier car accelerates more slowly due to its increased inertia, resulting in a lower velocity. The mass of the hanging object is also important: heavier masses produce a stronger pulling force, resulting in higher velocities. Furthermore, the distance the object falls is important, as a longer distance converts more potential energy into kinetic energy, increasing the car's velocity. In some cases, when the hanging mass is great enough and the falling distance is long enough, the extra energy can compensate for the higher car mass, making it less important in determining the final velocity.

If the same mass block falls through the same distance, but you change the mass of the cart, does the force that the string exerts on the cart change? In other words, is the force of the string on object A always equal to the weight of object A? Is it ever equal to the weight of object A? Explain your reasoning.

When the mass of the cart changes, the force exerted by the string on the cart also changes, even if the hanging block’s mass and the distance remain the same. The tension in the string isn’t always equal to the weight of the block; it also depends on the system’s acceleration, which is influenced by the cart’s mass. As the cart’s mass increases, the system’s acceleration decreases, leading to a change in the tension force.

When the mass of the cart changes, the force exerted by the string on the cart also changes, even if the hanging block’s mass and the distance remain the same. The tension in the string isn’t always equal to the weight of the block; it also depends on the system’s acceleration, which is influenced by the cart’s mass. As the cart’s mass increases, the system’s acceleration decreases, leading to a change in the tension force.

Was the frictional force the same whether or not the string exerted a force on it? Does this agree with your initial prediction? If not, why?

No, the frictional force is not always the same when the string is exerting a force onto the cart. the force the friction depends on the if the cart is moving and also depends on how much force the string is exerting on the cart.