Forces and Motion Basics Phet Simulation Lab

1. Click on the Motion tab. Click on all the buttons in the box in the upper right of your screen: Force Values, Masses, Speed.
2. Remove the crate from the skateboard. Put each item listed in the table below (starting with the girl) on the cart, one at a time. Press the blue pause button. Set the force 20 N to the right in the Force Box.
3. Using a timing device, time how long it takes for the object on the skateboard to reach the second tick mark on the speed dial (speed dial is in the cloud) . It should be close to or exactly 4.0 m/s. Record the mass and time on the chart. You will have to press the blue play button to start the motion.
4. Calculate the acceleration of the object by using the equation a = F/m. (F = force, m = mass)
5. The velocity is the speed given to you on the speed dial.
6. Replace the object you tested with the next object on the list. This should reset the speed, etc., but if it doesn’t, click Reset All before you test the next object. This will clear all your buttons, so you will need to recheck those after every trial. Do this before plugging in 20 N each time.
7. Find the mass of the mystery box by comparing it’s time to the known masses. Fill in your guess for the mass of the box.
8. Pile as many objects onto the cart as possible. Write down in the last row the list of objects you chose, the total mass, find the time it takes to accelerate to the speed of the other objects, and calculate the acceleration and velocity.

Analysis for Part 1:

Part II: Motion with Friction

Directions:

Analysis for Part 2

Static Friction

Sliding Friction

Part III: Acceleration Lab

1. Click on the Acceleration Lab tab. Click on the Forces, Sum of Forces, Values, Masses, Speed, and Acceleration buttons.
2. Leave Friction at the mid-point.
3. Put one box on the ground.
4. Put the Force to 200 N.
5. Fill in the first row of the chart.
6. Figure out what value you need to double the Net Force (Sum of Forces) on the box. Hint: This will not be double the Applied Force.
7. Let the speed reach the maximum allowed, then fill in the chart for when the box is slowing down, and after it comes to a stop. Be sure to pay attention to the value (+ or -) of the acceleration.