Practical - how the mass affects acceleration - Newton's laws - AQA Synergy - GCSE Combined Science Revision - AQA Synergy

Required practical - how the mass of an object affects acceleration

The effect of varying the mass of an object on the acceleration produced by a constant force

Aim of the experiment

To investigate the effect of varying the mass of an object on the acceleration produced by a constant force.

Method

The same apparatus and method can be used as in the investigation on the previous page. However, this time use 100 g (0.98 N) of force for every run, but add increasing numbers of slotted masses to the glider. Preliminary experiments may need to be carried out to find a suitable range of masses to add. Record the total mass of the glider and hanging masses combined.

Results

Record the acceleration results in a suitable table, similar to the example results below:

Mass added to glider in kg	Total mass in kg	\(\frac{1}{\text{Total mass}}\)	Run 1	Run 2	Run 3	Mean
0.0	0.33	3.03 /kg	2.90	2.95	3.05	2.97
0.1	0.43	2.33	2.21 /kg	2.36	2.26	2.28
0.2	0.53	1.89	1.93 /kg	1.78	1.83	1.85
0.3	0.63	1.59	1.65 /kg	1.54	1.49	1.56
0.4	0.73	1.37	1.32 /kg	1.27	1.42	1.34
0.5	0.83	1.20	1.16 /kg	1.11	1.26	1.18
0.6	0.93	1.08	1.13 /kg	1.03	0.98	1.05

Mass added to glider in kg	0.0
Total mass in kg	0.33
\(\frac{1}{\text{Total mass}}\)	3.03 /kg
Run 1	2.90
Run 2	2.95
Run 3	3.05
Mean	2.97

Mass added to glider in kg	0.1
Total mass in kg	0.43
\(\frac{1}{\text{Total mass}}\)	2.33
Run 1	2.21 /kg
Run 2	2.36
Run 3	2.26
Mean	2.28

Mass added to glider in kg	0.2
Total mass in kg	0.53
\(\frac{1}{\text{Total mass}}\)	1.89
Run 1	1.93 /kg
Run 2	1.78
Run 3	1.83
Mean	1.85

Mass added to glider in kg	0.3
Total mass in kg	0.63
\(\frac{1}{\text{Total mass}}\)	1.59
Run 1	1.65 /kg
Run 2	1.54
Run 3	1.49
Mean	1.56

Mass added to glider in kg	0.4
Total mass in kg	0.73
\(\frac{1}{\text{Total mass}}\)	1.37
Run 1	1.32 /kg
Run 2	1.27
Run 3	1.42
Mean	1.34

Mass added to glider in kg	0.5
Total mass in kg	0.83
\(\frac{1}{\text{Total mass}}\)	1.20
Run 1	1.16 /kg
Run 2	1.11
Run 3	1.26
Mean	1.18

Mass added to glider in kg	0.6
Total mass in kg	0.93
\(\frac{1}{\text{Total mass}}\)	1.08
Run 1	1.13 /kg
Run 2	1.03
Run 3	0.98
Mean	1.05

Analysis

For the total mass of each glider, calculate the value of \(\frac{1}{\text{mass}}\).

For example, 100 g has a mass of 0.1 kg. The value of \(\frac{1}{\text{mass}}\) is \(\frac{1}{0.1}\) = 10 /kg.

Plot a line graph with acceleration on the vertical axis and \(\frac{1}{\text{mass}}\) on the horizontal axis. Draw a suitable line of best fit.

Describe what the results show about the effect of decreasing the mass (increasing the value of \(\frac{1}{\text{mass}}\)) of the object on its acceleration.

Evaluation

Acceleration is inversely proportional to the mass of the object. This means that a graph of acceleration against \(\frac{1}{\text{mass}}\) should produce a straight line that passes through the origin. To what extent do your results show this relationship? For example, do all your points lie on a straight line passing through the origin, or are there any ?

Hazards and control measures

Hazard	Consequence	Control Measures
Electrical appliance	Electrical fault – fire/shock	Check mains cable and plug are not broken or wiring exposed before use
Masses and glider falling to floor	Objects falling on feet	Use relatively small masses and step back after releasing glider

Hazard	Electrical appliance
Consequence	Electrical fault – fire/shock
Control Measures	Check mains cable and plug are not broken or wiring exposed before use

Hazard	Masses and glider falling to floor
Consequence	Objects falling on feet
Control Measures	Use relatively small masses and step back after releasing glider

Newton's laws - AQA SynergyPractical - how the mass affects acceleration