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I'm doing a science experiment. can someone help me that if u have 3 balls that weigh each differently, ( none is heavy, one weighs medium and one is light weight), and i pushed them all with the same force, and my hypothesis is that the heavy one is slowest, but it was really the opposite. so, to write a conclusion , how does mass affect the speed of the balls.

2006-09-08 14:23:35 · 8 answers · asked by aksgeh 2 in Science & Mathematics Physics

One ball is heavy, sorry for my bad typing error

2006-09-08 14:59:31 · update #1

8 answers

You may have heard of or seen this physics formula at some point in your life: F = m*a Force equals mass times acceleration.

You have three balls of different masses. Let's says for example that the balls are 10 kg, 55 kg, and 100 kg, respectively. Let's also say that you push each ball with the same amount of force, let's say for example, 50 N. Here's how they should accelerate:

F = m*a F=m*a F = m*a
a = F/m a = F/m a = F/m
a = 50/10 a = 50/55 a = 50/100
a = 5 m/s^2 a = 0.91 m/s^2 a = 0.50 m/s^2

The masses of the balls should have no effect on their speed. The masses, however, DO affect the rate at which the speed changes, or the acceleration. The lightest ball should have accelerated the fastest, and the heaviest ball should have accelerated the slowest. Since the mass doesn't affect speed, the acceleration is the only thing that would seem to make one ball go faster or farther than the others. Also, some people may argue that, since the heaviest ball has a greater mass, it will also have the most kinetic energy. That doesn't matter in this case. Also, make sure all the balls have the exact same texture. Otherwise, you may have to consider friction as another variable.

2006-09-08 15:37:41 · answer #1 · answered by عبد الله (ドラゴン) 5 · 2 1

This problem is much harder than you first thought. Are the balls the same size? Because the balls roll you have to consider how the mass is distributed and where the force is applied ie to the centre or edge of the ball. Look up a property called Moment of inertia.
If you did your experiment with blocks on a frictionless surface you'd get the expected result....try pucks on an air table.

2006-09-08 21:40:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

There are 2 opposing forces alongside the exterior of the ramp that make sure the web pressure and, for this reason, the acceleration of the ball down the ramp. the first is the motivating pressure w = W sin(theta), the position W = mg is the burden of the ball and theta is the incline attitude of the ramp. the second one is the retardation pressure from friction f = kN = kW cos(theta) = kmg cos(theta); the position ok is the coefficient of rolling friction. positioned both collectively and think concerning the web pressure: F = ma = w - f = mg(sin(theta) - ok cos(theta); so the acceleration down the ramp is: a = g(sin(theta) - ok cos(theta)). And there you're activities followers. Neither m, the mass of the ball, nor W, the burden of the ball make a huge difference contained in the speed of acceleration down the ramp. Your mistakes are established of defective experimentation. because the three balls are diverse length, they likely lie alongside the ramp's handbook rail and get in touch with the perimeters of the railing in diverse spots. this suggests the ok, the coefficient, of rolling friction for the three balls is likely diverse (i'm guessing higher for the bigger balls). And as you could discover from a = g(sin(theta) - ok cos(theta)) a huge ok means a slower acceleration and consequent speed on the bottom of the ramp. So if the bigger balls are the slower balls, that's likely the position the mistakes in experimentation is. to dam out that risk of diverse ok's for each ball, use in basic terms one ball, yet use a ball that you could substitute the burden of by technique of including or subtracting some mass. which will keep the dimensions and cloth of the ball an similar for each roll down the ramp. And that ought to need to result interior an similar ok for each trial. caution. That one experimental ball will be hollow; so that you could fill it with some thing. yet make positive that's thoroughly crammed with in spite of you positioned into it. in the different case the ball gained't roll easily down the ramp as its innards slosh about. So fill it with air (empty), sand, and water, for instance, to the brim. which will provide the ball gentle, medium, and heavy weight/mass that couldn't slosh about. Weigh the ball each and each and every attempt and calculate the mass m = W/g.

2016-11-06 22:37:13 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Your hypothesis was right. If you pushed them all with the same force, the heaviest should have accellerated the slowest, since it has the most inertia. I suggest re-conducting your experiment.

In detail, how did you carry out your experiment? I suspect that the error lies there. Let me know and perhaps I can tell you what went wrong. For example, if they are made of different materials, the smallest mass might have a higher coefficient of friction than the larger one, causing it to slow.

They don't move at the same rate-- Gallileo's experiment was for masses falling under gravity, which has a constant acceleration for all of the masses. In his experiment, they were pushed horizontally with the same force, which because of their differing masses means they experience different accelerations. Different acceleration means different rates of travel.
Force = mass*acceleration.

2006-09-08 14:30:47 · answer #4 · answered by Rachel S 2 · 0 0

Did similar experiments when younger based on Galileo. What you will find based on the fact acceleration due to gravity is the same
i.e

g = Constant

The three ball should fall at constant weight a secret to proving this is use a slope with a fixed distance, fixed angle, the balls will roll down slower than falling hence the time is recordable.

Have fun live well and enjoy Physics

2006-09-08 15:01:06 · answer #5 · answered by Sons of Light 2 · 0 1

A science experiment is done under controlled conditions. The imprecision of your description indicates that this did not happen. If you want to do a science experiment, update your question with the relevant details and you'll get help. But hopefully you won't just get someone else to do your work for you.

2006-09-08 17:06:00 · answer #6 · answered by Frank N 7 · 0 0

gallileo dropped two weight from the tower at piza, one heavier than the other. they hit the ground together. gravity is a constant. it pulls, with equal effect, on any free falling mass. weigh is irrelavent.

however, cannon balls of differing weight were rolled down a long chute and ejected into the air, the length of accelleration and angle of ejection fromthe plane, caused balls to attaain duffering trajectories, due to their mass and accelleration on launch. this work is still the basics of ballistics. mind you its 3am, and i left school 30 years ago.. so check it with google science.

2006-09-08 14:58:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0 1

They all fall at the same rate. That is what Galileo found out at the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

check it out . Read more at :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo#Physics

2006-09-08 14:31:49 · answer #8 · answered by Roy G. Biv 3 · 0 1

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