Introduction
When you studied Newtonian dynamics you learned that when an object underwent some form of translational motion (whether in a straight line, parabolic, or circular path), the net force applied to the object is proportional to the acceleration. The constant of proportionality is the mass of the accelerating object. When a torque (the rotational analogue to force), is applied to an object that is free to rotate, the object will undergo rotational acceleration. In this experiment, you will investigate the relationship between torque and angular acceleration.
Objectives
In this experiment, you will
- Collect angular acceleration data for objects subjected to a torque.
- Determine an expression for the torque applied to a rotating system.
- Determine the relationship between torque and angular acceleration.
- Relate the slope of a linearized graph to system parameters.
- Make and test predictions of the effect of changes in system parameters on the constant of proportionality.
Sensors and Equipment
This experiment features the following sensors and equipment. Additional equipment may be required.
Option 1
Correlations
Teaching to an educational standard? This experiment supports the standards below.
- International Baccalaureate (IB) 2025/Physics
- The students should understand the torque τ of a force about an axis as given by τ = Fr sin θ
- The students should understand that bodies in rotational equilibrium have a resultant torque of zero
- The students should understand that an unbalanced torque applied to an extended, rigid body will cause angular acceleration
- The students should understand that the rotation of a body can be described in terms of angular displacement, angular velocity and angular acceleration
- The students should understand Newton’s second law for rotation as given by τ = Iα where τ is the average torque
Ready to Experiment?
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Purchase the Lab Book
This experiment is #13 of Advanced Physics with Vernier — Mechanics. The experiment in the book includes student instructions as well as instructor information for set up, helpful hints, and sample graphs and data.
