Example of a Physics Lab Report on Circular Motion

This lab report example will guide you through the structure and content required for a physics lab report on circular motion. It includes clear sections on objectives, methods, results, and conclusions, making it easy to understand and replicate.
By Jamie

Physics Lab Report on Circular Motion

Objective

The objective of this lab is to investigate the relationship between the radius of a circular path and the time period of an object moving in uniform circular motion.

Theory

When an object moves in a circle at constant speed, it experiences centripetal acceleration directed towards the center of the circle. The formula for centripetal acceleration (
\( a_c \)) is given by:

\[ a_c = \frac{v^2}{r} \]

Where:

  • \( v \) is the tangential speed
  • \( r \) is the radius of the circular path

Materials

  • Stopwatch
  • String (to create circular path)
  • Mass (small weight)
  • Meterstick
  • Protractor
  • Calculator

Method

  1. Setup: Create a circular path using the string and secure the mass at one end.
  2. Measurement: Measure the radius of the circular path using the meterstick.
  3. Data Collection: Swing the mass in a horizontal circle and use the stopwatch to measure the time taken for 10 complete revolutions. Record the time.
  4. Repeat: Change the radius of the circular path and repeat the measurements three times for accuracy.

Results

Radius (m) Time for 10 Revolutions (s) Time Period (s) Speed (m/s) Centripetal Acceleration (m/s²)
0.5 15.0 1.5 2.094 8.78
1.0 20.0 2.0 3.143 4.95
1.5 25.0 2.5 3.768 2.97

Analysis

From the data collected, it can be observed that as the radius increases, the time period of the motion also increases. This indicates an inverse relationship between centripetal acceleration and radius, supporting the theoretical framework of circular motion.

Conclusion

The experiment successfully demonstrated the principles of circular motion. The results corroborate the theory that centripetal acceleration decreases as the radius of the circular path increases, while the time period increases. Further studies could explore varying the mass of the object to examine its effect on circular motion.

References

  • Halliday, D., Resnick, R., & Walker, J. (2018). Fundamentals of Physics. Wiley.
  • Young, H. D., & Freedman, R. A. (2014). University Physics with Modern Physics. Pearson.