NAME___________________________ INCLINED PLANE PERIOD_____
PURPOSE: Compare the measured parallel force on an inclined plane and that predicted by theory.
PROCEDURE:
1. Place mass in cart.
2. Raise inclined plane to desired angle.
3. Find the hanger mass that will allow the cart to be moved up the ramp without
acceleration, after receiving a small push to start it.
4. Repeat step 3 but do it for the cart moving down the ramp.
5. Record all data in data table below.
DATA: Mass of empty cart _____________ kg
Hanger Mass, Hanger Mass,
Plane Angle Mass Added to Cart Moving Up Cart Moving Hanger Mass
(degrees) Cart (kg) (kg) Down (kg) Average (kg)
20 0.500
30 0.300
40 0.100
15 0.400
25 0.200
35 0.100
RESULTS:
Calculated Experimental
Plane Angle Total Cart Mass Total Cart Weight Parallel Force Parallel Force Percent
(degrees) (kg) (N) (N) (N) Difference (%)
20
30
40
15
25
35
% Difference = (Experimental – Calculated) / Calculated * 100
SHOW COMPLETE WORK FOR THE FIRST ANGLE:
Total Cart Mass
Cart Weight
Calculated Parallel Force
Experimental Parallel Force
Percent Difference
What was your average Percent Difference for the lab? Answer_______________________
Why were the values for moving up and down the incline different?
Why did we work with the average of the values for the parallel force?