Exp101 Lab Report

Experiment 101: Resolution of Forces
Caryl Jean P. Florentino

PHY10-4/A1
Department of Multimedia Arts and Sciences, Mapa Institute of Technology
[email protected]
the vector by applying trigonometry. The magnitude A of
the vector is computed from the Pythagorean Theorem as
Abstract The experiment made use of a two dimensional
plane with a system of clamps, pulley, strings and hangers to
which slotted mass are suspended to gain tension on the
strings. A center ring must gain a state of equilibrium with
the center post by placing the correct amount of force acting
on the ring from four different directions on it by adjusting
either the amount mass on the hangers or the angle of the
string.
A= A 2x + A 2y
The angle
between the vector A and the x
axis is determined from
I. INTRODUCTION
A scalar quantity is one with only magnitude, or
size. A scalar (for short) has only one numerical value. A
vector has a magnitude as well as direction and thus can
be represented with a vector. We can represent the overall
displacement with two successive displacement vectors.
The net displacement of these two displacement is a
single displacement vector that we call vector sum or
resultant. A component of a vector is the projection of
the vector on the axis; x axis is its x component, and
similarly the projection on the y axis is the y component.
The process of finding the components of a vector is
called resolving the vector. [1][2]
II. THEORY
To add vectors graphically, make a scale
drawing and place the vectors head to tailthat is with
the tail (origin) of the second vector starting from the
head (end point) of the first. Then draw the resultant
vector from the origin of the first vector to the end point
of the second vector. Finally, measure the length
(magnitude) and the direction of the resultant vector
directly from the scale drawing.
In the analytical method, since vectors and its
component vector form a right triangle, we may use
trigonometry. Thus, for the vector magnitude A that
makes an angle with the x axis, the component Ax,
along the direction and the component Ay along the

direction are given by
A x =A cos , A y = A sin
If we know the components Ax and Ay of a
vector, then we can obtain the magnitude and direction of
tan =
Ay
Ax
[3]
III. METHODOLOGY
1.) Experimental Set-up
Fig. 1. Force table with slotted mass suspended in hangers
2.) Materials: The materials needed to conduct

the experiment are: a force table, four super pulleys with
clamp, four mass hangers, a set of slotted mass, a
protractor, and a ruler.
3.) Procedure: The force table, pulleys and
hangers were set-up and assembled as shown in Fig. 1.
The hangers are attached from the end of each strings,
passing over the pulleys where the slotted mass are to be
attached and suspended indiscriminately. The mass on the
hangers or the angle of the strings are then adjusted until
the ring is in the center with the mark on the force table
and the center post as reference.
Test the strings by tugging on it lightly to one
side for a few times to see if the ring will go back at the
center of the table. If the ring fails to return at the center
mark, continue adjusting the load or the angle of the

strings. Otherwise, proceed to record the mass on each
string and its angle as F1, F2, F3, F4,
3,
and
1, 2,
respectively.
The resultant of F1, F2, F3 is then determined

with the use of the graphical and analytical method which
is then compared to F4. Two trials of the experiment is
performed.
IV. RESULTS
Actual
Values
F1
TRIAL 1
TRIAL 2
30 g
40 g
F2
25 g
45 g
F3
35 g
35 g
F4
25 g
45 g
110
349
165
113
258
166
355
286
Actual R = F4 =
355
Compute
d values
Polygo
n
method
Percentage
error
(polygon)
Component
method
Percentage
error
(component)
25 g
357
0%
0.563%
25.36 g
- 5.95
1.44%
0.27%
Fig 3. Results yielded using polygon method (graphical method) and

component method (analytical method) for TRIAL 1
Actual R = F4 =
TRIAL 2
Actual
45 g
=
286
Compute
d values
Polygo
n
method
Percentage
error
(polygon)
Component
method
Percentage
error
(component)
45 g
282
0%
1.40%
44 g
- 16.19
2.22%
0.06%
Fig 4. Results yielded using polygon method (graphical method) and

component method (analytical method) for TRIAL 2
V. DISCUSSION
For TRIAL 1, the experimental results for R has

0% in error and with a 0.563% error using the graphical
method. The experimental results for R has a 1.44% error
and has a 0.27% error using the analytical method. It
can be said that the graphical method is more accurate for
finding out the mass displacement and the analytical
method for finding the direction the mass is acting on for
TRIAL 1.
For TRIAL 2, the experimental results for R has
0% in error and with a 1.40% error using the graphical
method. The experimental results for R has 2.22% error
and with a 0.06% error using the analytical method. . It
can be said that the graphical method is more accurate for
finding out the mass displacement and the analytical
method for finding the direction the mass is acting on for
TRIAL 1.
VI. CONLUSION
Fig 2. Data gathered for Trial 1 and Trial 2
TRIAL 1
Actual
25 g
=
From the data recorded, it is seen that the

combined forces of F1, F2, F3 for the two trials is almost
the same as the value for the actual R (F4) with
percentage error of <5% . It can be said that the
computation used in determining the resultant force is
accurate.
With the use of the force table, it is verified that

the graphical method (polygon method) and the
analytical method (component method) are both accurate
for finding out a resultant vector with the low percentage
error the results have yielded. However, the graphical
method is more accurate for finding the displacement of a
resultant and the analytical method is more accurate for
finding the direction of a resultant. The result of the
experiment yielded a 2% margin in error that can
possibly merited to human error as the cause. It is also
concluded that if the forces acting on an object equates to
zero, the object achieves a state of equ
ilibrium.
REFERENCES
[1] Wilson, J., & Buffa, A. (2000). College physics (4th
ed., Vol. 1). Prentice Hall.
[2] Walker, J., Halliday, D., & Robert, R. (2008).
Fundamentals of Physics (8th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
[3] Jones, E., Childers, R. (2001). Motion in Two
Dimensions, Resolution in Vectors. In Contemporary
College Physics (Third edition ed.). McGraw-Hill.

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Experiment 101: Resolution of Forces

Caryl Jean P. Florentino

between the vector A and the x

axis is determined from

along the direction and the component Ay along the

Fig. 1. Force table with slotted mass suspended in hangers

2.) Materials: The materials needed to conduct

mark, continue adjusting the load or the angle of the

The resultant of F1, F2, F3 is then determined

Fig 3. Results yielded using polygon method (graphical method) and

Fig 4. Results yielded using polygon method (graphical method) and

For TRIAL 1, the experimental results for R has

Fig 2. Data gathered for Trial 1 and Trial 2

From the data recorded, it is seen that the

With the use of the force table, it is verified that

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