Describe the investigation you will conduct to find the relationship between torque and angular acceleration using a wheel, string, and mass. Describe your steps with enough detail that another student could replicate your investigation.

Answer 1

To investigate the relationship between torque and angular acceleration using a wheel, string, and mass, follow these steps:

1. Gather materials: You will need a wheel (such as a pulley or a bike wheel), a string, a mass (such as a weight), a ruler, a stopwatch, and a stable surface to set up the wheel.

2. Set up the wheel: Attach the wheel securely to a stable surface, making sure it can rotate freely. Tie one end of the string to the wheel and the other end to the mass.

3. Measure important quantities: Measure the radius of the wheel using the ruler and record this value. Also, measure the mass of the weight. These values will be important for calculations.

4. Apply torque: Hang the mass on the string and let it hang freely. Using the ruler, measure the distance from the center of the wheel to the point where the string is attached. This distance will be the lever arm in calculating torque.

5. Start the stopwatch and release the weight: Allow the weight to start descending, causing the wheel to rotate. Measure the time it takes for the weight to reach the floor, recording this value.

6. Calculate angular acceleration: Once you have the measurements, you can calculate torque using the formula torque = distance * mass * gravity. You can also calculate angular acceleration using the formula angular acceleration = (2 * π * radians) / t^2, where t is the time taken for the weight to fall and radians can be calculated from the distance the weight falls.

7. Repeat the experiment: To ensure accuracy, repeat the experiment multiple times with different masses or distances and record the results.

8. Analyze the data: Once you have collected all the data, analyze the relationship between torque and angular acceleration. See if there is a linear relationship between the two quantities or if there is another pattern.

By following these steps, another student should be able to replicate the investigation and determine the relationship between torque and angular acceleration using a wheel, string, and mass.