PURPOSE: To show that centripetal force varies with angular velocity.
DESCRIPTION: A string connects the rotating mass on the air table past a pulley to the spring scale. The centripetal force can be determined using the measured values of mass, rotational period and radius, then compared with that read from the spring scale. The period can be measured using the manual timer at the lower left in the photograph.
SUGGESTIONS: The system works best when the string is in the pulley groove.
REFERENCES: (PIRA unavailable.)
EQUIPMENT: Air table, large puck with pulley and spring scale, digital timer.
SETUP TIME: 5 min.
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