Physics AP - The Atwood Machine (#11)

Background:
The Atwood machine is a device that can be used to find the tension
or the acceleration of the two different or same weights on either
side of the two pulleys.  In order to find the Tension of the two
different our group decided to put two scales on each side of the
pulleys and then attached the weights to the scales.  The scale
measures up to five Newton's.  The scales weighted .25N . .026Kg
each.

Problem:
To find the Tension of the weights without using equations and to
find the Tension and acceleration of the weights using the equations.

Procedure:
1. Hook up the two scales on each side of the Atwood machine the hook
   to two weights you are going to use on each side of the scales.
2. Bring the heavier weight up as close as you can to one meter above
   the ground.
3. Have someone time the time it takes the heavier to reach the
   ground from one meter up.
4. Repeat step 3 five times in order to get an average time to use in
   the equation (D=vI+(.5 *atē).
5. Get the acceleration from the equation mentioned in step 4.
6. Have someone watch the scale attached to the heavier weight and
   try to record the difference in tension.
7. Repeat step 6 five to get an average of the Tensions.
8. Find the Tension using the equation ((2m1*m2)*(g))/(m1+m2).

Data:  
Weights used 500g and 200g
Trial#  Time    Average Time    Acceleration      Tension equation
  1     .78s       .79s         (D=vI+(.5 *atē)
  2     .81s                    1=0+(.5*a*.79ē)   2*.5*.2/.5+.2=
  3     .85s                    1=(.31205a)       .2/.7
  4     .72s                    1/.31205=a        .285714*9.8=T
  5     .78s                    a=3.21m/sē        T=2.8N

Conclusion/Analysis:
We couldn't find the tension without the equation because the
weights we used when they were dropped the time was too little to
see the change in tension.  When we used weights that could be read
because the fall would be slower the Tension difference isn't big
enough to read.  This lab was not safe if you used weights that the
Tension difference was great enough to read, because the weight
would go flying across the room and if they were to hit someone that
wouldn't have been good.  In order to do this lab right you would
need a scale that read between zero and one Newton so that you could
use weights that would fall slow enough to read the little change in
Tensions.  In this lab with the equipment that we had it was just
better to use the equation for tension.