Lab 4 - Electric Atwood's Machine
The purpose
In this lab we will be analyzing data from a fictitious experiment involving an
Atwood machine adapted to be used in an electric field with charged masses. The
time for the charged mass to descend is measured. A 99% confidence interval for
the value of E (the electric field) will be determined.
The Experiment
A uniform electric field is created by two large plates. The upper plate is positive
and the lower plate is negative. A uniform electric field is created by the two plates
of strength E. Two equal masses, m1=15g and m2=15g are connected to each other
by a light string that passes over two pulleys. The masses are charged to Q1 and Q2
respectively.
Charge Q2 is raised to 2 cm above the lower plate and released from rest.
Charge Q2 starts to move towards the lower plate at the same time,
charge Q1 is being lifted off the lower plate.
Assume that the charges Q1 and Q2 are far enough apart that they do not interact
with each other. Ignore gravity in this experiment.
The time for charge Q2 to descend the 2cm is measured.
The experiment was repeated 25 times.
The following data of time to fall for this system was obtained.
The time information is in seconds.
Note: The time measurement error is +- 0.1s. The error in the data is larger
than +-.1s due to unknown random errors in the timing of the system and
systematic errors due to friction in the pulley mechanism.
The Theory
This is a constant acceleration experiment with two bodies.
As 𝑄2＞𝑄1＞0
𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡 = (𝑄1 − 𝑄2)|𝐸|(𝑗) = (𝑀1 + 𝑀2)𝑎𝑦
(𝑄1−𝑄2)|𝐸|(𝑗)
𝑎𝑦 = (𝑀1+𝑀2)
……….(i)
Uniform E-Field
● Constant acceleration
2
𝑦 = 𝑦0 + 𝑣0𝑦𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡 /2
2
𝑦 − 𝑦0 = ∆𝑦 = 𝑣0𝑦𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡 /2
2
∆𝑦 = 𝑎𝑦𝑡 /2
2
𝑎𝑦 = 2∆𝑦/𝑡 ……..(ii)
Where ∆𝑦 =− 0. 02𝑗 𝑚
2(−0.02𝑗 𝑚) (𝑄1−𝑄2)|𝐸|(𝑗)
2 = (𝑀1+𝑀2)
𝑡
● Solve for E
(𝑀1+𝑀2)2(−0.02)
|𝐸|= 2
(𝑄1−𝑄2)𝑡
● Units
𝑚1 = 𝑚2 = 0. 015𝑘𝑔
Mass is in kg
−9
Charge is in nC like 10 𝐶
Distance ∆𝑦 =− 0. 02 𝑚
E has unit N/C or V/m
The Data
Trial Time(s)
1 34.9634
2 38.4056
3 36.6527
4 41.5657
5 35.2827
6 37.8357
7 36.6246
8 41.186
9 39.3086
10 40.6276
11 38.6379
12 39.0491
13 36.9546
14 40.4048
15 39.9997
16 38.8886
17 39.6568
18 37.5204
19 43.1247
20 41.2289
21 39.048
22 41.8035
23 37.2043
24 38.6391
25 39.8376
The Analysis
0.00000001443
Q1 7 C
0.00000001458
Q2 2 C
m1 0.015 kg
m2 0.015 kg
Delta y -0.02 m
Using Google sheets
Trial Time(s) E(N/C)
1 34.9634 6769.95725
2 38.4056 5610.791561
3 36.6527 6160.292015
4 41.5657 4790.083083
5 35.2827 6647.978707
6 37.8357 5781.089557
7 36.6246 6169.748534
8 41.186 4878.811215
9 39.3086 5355.969447
10 40.6276 5013.845047
11 38.6379 5543.527618
12 39.0491 5427.391952
13 36.9546 6060.050346
14 40.4048 5069.292151
15 39.9997 5172.49138
16 38.8886 5472.283976
17 39.6568 5262.327947
18 37.5204 5878.65975
19 43.1247 4450.010852
20 41.2289 4868.663377
21 39.048 5427.69774
22 41.8035 4735.741131
23 37.2043 5978.978179
24 38.6391 5543.183297
25 39.8376 5214.670965
● E average= 5491.341483
● Standard Dev= 586.9720835
The Conclusion
In this lab we were given fictitious data from a atwood machine. We then use this
data and calculate E and Standard deviation also E average and we are 99%
confidence interval for the electric field .
