Hanging Bridge Lab Write up

Where do the two curves match? Where do the two curves start to diverge from one another? What does this tell you about the system?

The curves match at about 0.10 kg. The curves begin to noticeably diverge after 0.20 kg and diverge further at 0.25 kg and 0.30 kg, but not by much. This shows that some factors in the system, like friction, may have led to uncertainties in the data we measured.

What are the limitations on the accuracy of your measurements and analysis?

The environment can cause some limitations in the data collected. Also, measuring the vertical displacement while the string was still settling after the weight was added can cause some inaccuracies in the data.

What will you report to your supervisor? How does the vertical displacement of an object suspended on a string between two pulleys depend on the mass of that object?

I will report that as more mass is added to object B, the vertical displacement will be higher. Also, there is not a linear relationship between the mass of weights and the vertical displacement.

Did your measurements of the vertical displacement of object B agree with your initial predictions? If not, why? State your result in the most general terms supported by your analysis.

Yes, the measurements of vertical displacement did agree with the initial predictions using the equation. There were minor inaccuracies most likely due to the weights not being perfectly similar to their given value. Also, there was human error when measuring vertical displacement with a meter stick/ruler.

Do the pulleys behave in a frictionless way for the entire range of weights you will use? How can you determine if the assumption of frictionless pulleys is a good one?

No, because there will always be some amount of friction between the string and the pulleys even though it is very minuscule. The assumption of frictionless pulleys is good if the overall system is small when it comes to weights and the size of the pulleys which may make friction negligible, but as the mass of object B increases the graph starts to diverge which may be due to increasing friction (as shown by our measured vs. calculated data).

What information would you need to apply your calculation to the walkway through the rainforest?

The information needed would be the weight and position of objects on the bridge, the distance between both ends of the bridge, environmental factors like weather, and the materials used for the bridge.

Data and Graph