Question

A student must design an experiment to determine the relationship between the mass of an object and the resulting acceleration when the object is under the influence of a net force. Which of the following experiments should the student conduct in order to determine the relationship between all three quantities?
Answer choices:

A) Drop objects of different masses from a known height above the ground for multiple trials such that they reach their respective terminal speeds. Use a stopwatch to measure the time it takes each object to reach the ground, and record the mass of each object by using a mass scale.

B) Slide objects of different masses across the same rough surface so that each object travels at a constant speed while under the influence of the force of kinetic friction. Then measure the force required to keep each object at a constant speed by using a force sensor, and record the mass of each object by using a mass scale. Perform this experiment multiple times with objects of different masses.

C) Place an object on a rough surface so that the object is at rest. Use a force sensor to exert a force on the object until just after the object overcomes the force of static friction. Record this force. Repeat the experiment for objects of different masses.

D) Slide an object of known mass across a rough surface, using a constant applied force that can be measured by a force sensor. Place a motion detector behind the object so that its speed can be measured as it slides across the surface. Repeat the experiment for different applied forces.

Answer 1

Answer:

D) Slide an object of known mass across a rough surface, using a constant applied force that can be measured by a force sensor. Place a motion detector behind the object so that its speed can be measured as it slides across the surface. Repeat the experiment for different applied forces.

Explanation:

"The motion detector will provide information about the object’s speed as a function of time as it slides as a result of the applied force. The information about the object’s speed as a function of time can be used to determine the acceleration of the object. The force sensor measures the applied force exerted on the object, and the mass of the object is known. Therefore, this experiment can be used to determine how an object’s mass is related to the net force exerted on the object and the acceleration of the object."

It cannot be A because we need an acceleration will be determined by gravity.

It cannot be B because the term constant speed means that there is no net force, which is required by the initial question.

It cannot be C because the experiment is good for determining the coefficient of friction but not for determining how the mass relates to the acceleration.

It must be D because the object is moving and we have a motion detector, we can graph the acceleration vs time graph. So D allows you to have a lot of the different acceleration values which helps with determining the relationship between acceleration and the mass.