PHYSIC PRACTICAL STPM 2017

ABSTACT

In this experiment, we examined that the length of the string radius is directly
proportional to the period of the motion, mean that the longer the length of the string
radius, the longer the period of the motion. To measure the period of the motion, we
fixed the rotation to completed 20 oscillation. We tabulated the recorded data and
illustrated the results in the form of table. We are using different length of the string
radius which are 30cm, 40cm, 50cm and 60cm which to investigate the period of the
motion . The graphic analysis that we use are plotting the graph to make results more
visual. Graphical analysis lead to less precise result but the result commonly accepted
by the theory which the relationship between radius and period is R T.

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PHYSIC PRACTICAL STPM 2017

INTRODUCTION
1.1 Theory

Earlier we defined acceleration as being the change in velocity with time. Until
now we have only talked about changes in the magnitude of the acceleration: the
speeding up or slowing down of objects. However, since velocity is a vector, it has
both a magnitude and a direction; so another way that velocity can change is by
changing its direction even while its speed remains constant. This is the type of
acceleration that will be explored in this chapter. A very important case of changing
direction while maintaining constant speed is called uniform circular motion. In that
case, the objects speed remains constant, hence uniform, while its direction is
constantly changing, this is necessary to keep it moving in a circle. If there were no
acceleration it would travel in a straight line. This type of motion occurs in a number
of instances: important examples being the motion of the planets around the sun or the
moon around the earth.

1.2 Literature review:

Uniform circular motion can be described as the motion of an object in a circle at

a constant speed. As an object moves in a circle, it is constantly changing its direction.
At all instances, the object is moving tangent to the circle. Since the direction of the
velocity vector is the same as the direction of the object's motion, the velocity vector
is directed tangent to the circle as well. The animation at the right depicts this by
means of a vector arrow.
An object moving in a circle is accelerating. Accelerating objects are objects
which are changing their velocity - either the speed (i.e., magnitude of the velocity
vector) or the direction. An object undergoing uniform circular motion is moving with
a constant speed. Nonetheless, it is accelerating due to its change in direction. The
direction of the acceleration is inwards. The animation at the right depicts this by
means of a vector arrow.
The final motion characteristic for an object undergoing uniform circular motion
is the net force. The net force acting upon such an object is directed towards the
center of the circle. The net force is said to be an inward or centripetal force. Without
such an inward force, an object would continue in a straight line, never deviating from
its direction. Yet, with the inward net force directed perpendicular to the velocity
vector, the object is always changing its direction and undergoing an inward
acceleration.

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PHYSIC PRACTICAL STPM 2017

1.3 Problem Statements

When we increase the length of the string radius, the period of the motion is different?

1.4 Objective

To study how the centripetal force which affected by the length of the string radius.

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PHYSIC PRACTICAL STPM 2017

METHODOLOGY
Manipulated variable, controlled variables and responding variable are considered
in order to ensure the accuracy of the experiment. The manipulated variable for this
experiment is the length of the string radius. The experiment was started by using
15cm of string and the length was then increased to 30cm, 40cm, 50cm and 60cm.
There are few controlled variables in this experiment. These include the mass of the
load and the mass of the rubber stopper. The responding variable of the experiment is
the period of the motion. The results are recorded, tabulated and then calculated to
obtain then mean of the period of the motion.

2.1 Apparatus and Materials

A few apparatus and materials were prepared for carrying up the experiment. A
meter ruler, a paper clip, a rubber stopper, a stopwatch, a plastic tube, a load and also
the string with length 30cm, 40cm, 50cm and 60cm.

2.2 Procedure

Diagram 1
The apparatus were set-up in diagram 1. The length of string radius was measured
and cut in 30cm. The string was inserted into a plastic tube and one end of the string
was connected to the load with mass 70g while another end connected to the rubber
stopper with mass 30g. The paper clip was put between the end of the plastic tube and
load. The stopwatch was started once the rubber stopper was rotated. The stopwatch
was stopped until 20 oscillation was completed. This step was repeated 2 times to get
the best result. The results was recorded and tabulated. The period of the motion was
calculated. The experiment was repeated with different length of the string radius
which is 40cm, 50cm and 60cm. The experiment was carrying out in no air resistance
condition to ensure the accuracy of the results. The graph of T against R was plotted.

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PHYSIC PRACTICAL STPM 2017

OBSERVATION, RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

3.1 Observation and measurement

The period of the motion was calculated and tabulated in table below. The period of
the motion was calculated by the formula, time taken to complete 20 oscillation .
20 oscillation

Length of the string Time taken to completed Period of the motion (s)
20 oscillation (s)
radius (cm)

1 2 1 2 mean

30 14.67 14.60 0.7335 0.7300 0.7318

40 16.12 16.20 0.8060 0.8100 0.8080

50 17.94 17.83 0.8970 0.8915 0.8943

60 19.39 19.45 0.9695 0.9725 0.9710

Table 1

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PHYSIC PRACTICAL STPM 2017

Period of Motion (s)

1.2
0.971
1 0.8943
0.808
0.8 0.7138

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
30 40 50 60
LENGTH OF THE STRING
RADIUS (CM)

Graph 1 : Period of the motion against length of the string radius

3.2 Interpretation and Discussion

After the experiment has been done, the results refer to Graph 1 show that the period
of the motion is getting higher by increase the length of the string radius. Thus, the
longer the length of the string radius, the higher the period of the motion.

Besides that, the results we recorded in this experiment are less precise because
due to the error occurred during experiment such as systematic error which is cannot
be avoided, random error which is human mistakes. It is overcome by perform
repeating the experiments to obtain the secondary data in order to take the average
from 2 readings, this shown to be increase the accuracy of the results and it is make
sure to be consistency.

During the experiment, the fan and all the windows must be switched off to
ensure the period of the motion does not affected by air resistance since the motion of
oscillation quite sensitive to the surrounding condition.

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PHYSIC PRACTICAL STPM 2017

CONCLUSION

From the results that obtained from the table and graphs, we know that the the
longer the length of the string radius, the higher the period of the motion.

The value of the period of motion found in the experiments can be revised by
using high standard equipment, proper setup and use digital measuring equipment in
observation and measurement which will increase the accuracy of results and the
obtained value will be more precise compare to theoretical value.

From this experiment, the techniques that applied are analyses equation from
theory and identified the period of the motion by obtains the result from the graph.
Lastly, the objective had been achieved.

This experiment helped us in better understanding the uniform circular motion

in which we tried to test centripetal force and the length of the string radius affecting
it.

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REFERENCE

1) ACEAHEAD PHYSICS THIRD TERM(2013). PUBLISHED BY OXFORD

FAJAR SDN.BHD

2) https://www.scribd.com/document/74409136/403-Lab-Report-Circular-Motion

3) http://www.physicsclassroom.com/mmedia/circmot/ucm.cfm