Research Question: How is weight related to mass?
Design of the Experiment
The Controlling variable:
Since the weight is affected by the gravitational force , we need to make sure that the experiment is conducted on the Earth throughout so the gravitational force will always be +9.8 m/s/s.
Lab Materials:
Procedures
Lab Set-Up
- Independent Variable: Mass of the hanging objects
- Dependent Variable: Weight of the hanging objects
- Control: The planet.
The Controlling variable:
Since the weight is affected by the gravitational force , we need to make sure that the experiment is conducted on the Earth throughout so the gravitational force will always be +9.8 m/s/s.
Lab Materials:
- Hanging Masses
- 1kg, 0.5kg, 0.2kg, 0.1kg, 0.05 kg and 0.01kg
- The spring scale that measures the weight of an object
Procedures
- Pick the hanging mass
- Record the hanging mass
- Hang the hanging mass on the spring scale to measure the weight of the object
- Record the weight of each hanging mass
- Find the relationship between the mass and weight
Lab Set-Up
Raw Data:
In this experiment, we used the spring scale to measure each of the hanging mass or combination of two or three hanging masses. We record the mass of the hanging mass first and then measure the weight and record it. We measured the weight of 1kg, 0.75kg, 0.5kg, 0.4kg, 0.3kg, 0.2kg, 0.1kg, 0.05kg, 0.02kg hanging masses. In order to get a more accurate result, we collect as many data as possible by combining two or more hanging mass together to form a new mass that is not existed in the hanging mass set.
In this experiment, we used the spring scale to measure each of the hanging mass or combination of two or three hanging masses. We record the mass of the hanging mass first and then measure the weight and record it. We measured the weight of 1kg, 0.75kg, 0.5kg, 0.4kg, 0.3kg, 0.2kg, 0.1kg, 0.05kg, 0.02kg hanging masses. In order to get a more accurate result, we collect as many data as possible by combining two or more hanging mass together to form a new mass that is not existed in the hanging mass set.
Graph of the Collected Data:
Conclusion:
According to the graph and data we collected, we know that the relationship between mass and weight is linear and the slope of the graph is +9.8m/s/s, which means that the weight of an object is the mass of that object times the gravitational force. We can also conclude that mass and weight are not the same thing because weight is a vector and mass is a scalar. Weight has both magnitude and direction while mass only has magnitude. The equation that represents the relationship between weight and mass is:
Fg=mg
Evaluating Procedures and Uncertainties:
- This graph of the collected data clearly shows a strong linear graph.
- The x-axis shows the mass of the hanging mass in Kilograms (kg)
- The y-axis shows the weight of the hanging mass in Newtons (N)
- The slope of the graph is +9.8 m/s/s
- 9.8 m/s/s is the gravitational force
- We can get an equation from it.
- w=mg ----> Fg=mg ----> Fg=9.8m
Conclusion:
According to the graph and data we collected, we know that the relationship between mass and weight is linear and the slope of the graph is +9.8m/s/s, which means that the weight of an object is the mass of that object times the gravitational force. We can also conclude that mass and weight are not the same thing because weight is a vector and mass is a scalar. Weight has both magnitude and direction while mass only has magnitude. The equation that represents the relationship between weight and mass is:
Fg=mg
Evaluating Procedures and Uncertainties:
- Uncertainties:
- The reading of the scale -- When we were reading the number on the spring scale, the result might not be precise. The uncertainty is +/- 0.1N.
- Improving the Investigation:
- We should collect more data in order to get an even more accurate equation for the relationship between weight and mass.