Mass vs. Force Lab

Mass vs. Force

The Lab we did involved mass and force. We took several different brass masses and weighed them with the force probe. After we weighed each mass we recorded our data in a table. The general pattern we first realized was when we weighed a mass that was either 100 or 200 grams, which we then converted into .1 and .2 kilograms, on the force probe it would measure to be that first number in newtons, like 1 or 2. We couldn't tell too much from this though so we graphed our information, putting mass on the x-axis and force on the y-axis. After we plotted our points we drew a straight line that we thought best represented the dots. Then we found the slope of the line using the equation by picking two points on the graph and using the rise over run formula, and our answer came out to be 10 newtons of force for every 1 kilogram of mass. We then discovered the equation for Force of Gravity which is F=gm.

You can relate this lab to real life with anything that includes a relationship between mass and force. One of the main examples can be any type of sports. Just like you need a certain amount of force to hold up the brass mass, in the sports of basketball, if you want the ball to go in the hoop, you need to put a certain amount of force to get it there. Certain balls are heavier and lighter than others, so in order to get the ball to the hoop you need to apply different amounts of force. This also applies to on of my favorite sports, softball. When it comes to throwing the ball anywhere, you need to put a certain amount of force behind your throw to get in there. Sometimes after a rainy day, the balls get soaked in water and become heavier, and now because they are heavier, you need to put more force behind the ball to get it to go that same distance.Or even something as simple as holding your bags of groceries; the heavier the bag is, the more force you need to hold it up.