I'm doing a lab on centripetal force but I'm not sure how to make the graphs. If you search for "centripetal force lab" on Google and click "I'm Feeling Lucky" it will take you to the exact lab I'm doing. I'm supposed to graph Fc vs. Vt, Fc vs. Vt^2, and Fc vs. e^Vt, but I don't know which data points to use since I did the experiment with four different masses of washers, each with four trials. Since Fc = mg in this case, won't it be constant in all 4 trials, which won't change the slope? Please help.
If Fc is the centripetal force, it is equal to mV^2/R, NOT mg.
The Fc vs Vt^2 graph should be a straight line.
I don't know enough about your lab experiment to help more than that.
When conducting a lab on centripetal force, it's important to understand the relationship between the variables you're studying and how to graph them appropriately. In your case, the lab requires you to graph Fc (centripetal force) against three different variables: Vt (tangential velocity), Vt^2 (tangential velocity squared), and e^Vt (exponential function of tangential velocity).
To determine which data points to use for each graph, you need to analyze how the variables are related to centripetal force in the lab. Since you mentioned that Fc = mg in this case, where m is the mass of the washers and g is the acceleration due to gravity, the centripetal force should be constant for a given mass, regardless of the tangential velocity. This means that Fc will indeed have the same value for each trial with the same mass of washers.
However, by measuring the tangential velocity (Vt) in each trial and changing the mass of the washers, you can observe how different variables affect the centripetal force. By graphing Fc vs. Vt, you will be able to examine the relationship between the centripetal force and tangential velocity for each mass. Even though Fc will be constant for each trial with the same mass, you can still observe how different masses affect the centripetal force.
For the other two graphs, Fc vs. Vt^2 and Fc vs. e^Vt, you are exploring how the centripetal force relates to the squared tangential velocity and the exponential function of tangential velocity, respectively. By analyzing these graphs, you can examine whether there is a linear or nonlinear relationship between those variables.
It's important to note that while Fc may have the same value for each trial with the same mass, the purpose of graphing is to analyze the relationship between Fc and the variables you're investigating. By plotting the data points for each trial and different masses, you can observe any trends or patterns that emerge and determine how the variables interact with each other.
Remember, the "I'm Feeling Lucky" function on Google simply takes you to the top search result. It's always a good idea to review the lab instructions carefully and consult any provided guidelines or resources to ensure you're correctly conducting and graphing your specific experiment.