Angular Velocity Lab Group 2

 Analysis

Determine the final angular velocity of the ring/disk/shaft/spool system for each case after the weight hits the ground. How is this angular velocity related to the final velocity of the hanging weight?  Be sure to use an analysis technique that makes the most efficient use of your data and your time.  If your calculation incorporates any assumptions, make sure you justify these assumptions based on data that you have analyzed.

Conclusion

In each case, how do your measured and predicted values for the final angular velocity of the system compare?

For the largest radius of 4.8 cm, the actual velocity (11.04 rad/sec +/- 0.15 rad/s) was fairly close to the predicted (9.58 rad/s). The linear velocity for actual and predicted was 0.53 m/s +/- 0.007 m/s and 0.46 m/s, respectively. The linear velocities for the 2.9 cm and 2 cm were 0.33 m/s and 0.25 m/s, which were fairly different from the predicted values of 0.20 m/s and 0.10 m/s.

Of the three places you attached the string, which produced the highest final angular velocity?  Did your measurements agree with your initial prediction?  Why or why not?  What are the limitations on the accuracy of your measurements?

The highest angular velocity was 11.04 rad/s +/- 0.15 rad/s, which was in the 4.8 cm radius. This specific value somewhat agreed with our prediction (9.58 rad/s). The other 2 radii of 2.9 cm and 2 cm were much different than the predicted values. The difference in values was most likely due to human error when it came to tracking the weight as it hit the floor to get the linear velocity. Some limitations are that friction was not accounted for in the system. Also, tracking during the video analysis when measuring linear velocity may have led to discrepancies in the final value.

Given your results, how much does it matter where the starter cord is attached?  Why do you think the manufacturer chose to wrap the cord around the ring?  Explain your answers.

It matters a great deal since attaching the cord to the big ring led to fewer discrepancies because our velocity was similar to the predicted one. The manufacturer chose to wrap the cord around the big ring because of the ease of use of the system, and it led to the most stable movement.