Practical - Force and Acceleration

The video tutorial demonstrates an experiment to explore the relationship between force and acceleration with a constant mass. Catherine uses a dynamics trolley and falling masses to measure acceleration, employing a stopwatch and calculations. The experiment setup includes a runway, trolley, and pulley system. Results are analyzed to show that acceleration is directly proportional to force, with a graph illustrating this relationship. The tutorial concludes with a discussion on ensuring accurate results and the importance of maintaining constant mass.

What is the main objective of Catherine's experiment?

• To calculate the gravitational force

• To determine the speed of the trolley

• To investigate the relationship between force and acceleration

• To measure the mass of the trolley

What is the role of the pulley in the experiment?

• To decrease the acceleration

• To measure the speed of the trolley

• To suspend the falling masses

• To increase the mass of the trolley

What is the purpose of the slight slope in the runway?

• To make the trolley move in a straight line

• To decrease the mass of the trolley

• To increase the speed of the trolley

• To balance out the friction in the wheels

How is the speed of the trolley calculated?

• By dividing the distance by the time

• By subtracting the time from the distance

• By multiplying the force by the time

• By adding the mass to the distance

How is the acceleration calculated from the speed?

• By adding speed to time

• By dividing speed by time

• Using the equation V^2 - U^2 = 2as

• By multiplying speed by distance

What does a straight line through the origin on the graph indicate?

• Acceleration is directly proportional to force

• Force is constant regardless of acceleration

• Acceleration is inversely proportional to force

• Acceleration decreases as force increases

What happens to the acceleration when the force is doubled?

• It is doubled

• It is halved

• It becomes zero

• It remains the same

What does the ratio of force to acceleration indicate?

• The speed of the trolley

• The constant proportionality

• The mass of the trolley

• The time taken for the experiment

Why is it important to use small masses compared to the trolley's mass?

• To make the experiment more complex

• To ensure the mass of the system remains constant

• To decrease the force applied

• To increase the overall mass of the system

What equipment can be used to automate the measurement of acceleration?

• An ultrasound sensor or light gates

• A calculator

• A stopwatch

• A ruler