Mass and acceleration
A second experiment can be carried out using the apparatus above, to investigate how the The rate of change of velocity is measured in metres per second squared. Acceleration = change of velocity 梅 time taken. of an object depends on its The amount of matter an object contains. Mass is measured in kilograms (kg) or grams (g)., if the resultant force remains constant.
Use an accelerating force of 5 N and keep this constant.
Record acceleration as additional 0.5 kg masses are added to the trolley.
Graph
Plot a graph of mass m in kg on the y-axis against acceleration a in m/s2 on the x-axis.
Draw a smooth curve through the points.
The graph is not a straight line through the origin 鈥 mass and acceleration are not directly proportional.
Plot a second graph of 1/mass in 1/kg on the y-axis against acceleration a in m/s2 on the x-axis. Draw the line of best fit
This graph is a straight line through the origin. Acceleration is directionally proportional to \(\frac{\text{1}}{\text{m}}\)
We say that mass and acceleration are inversely proportional.
If you double the mass, you half the acceleration.
In other words, a resultant force on a body will cause it to change its The distance travelled in one second in a specified direction..
This simply means that unbalanced forces will cause:
- acceleration
- deceleration
- change in direction