Pulley Lab

  Pulley Lab

In this lab, we used a two-string pulley to determine the relationship between force and distance. We used the model at the front of the class to help build our pulley. When the pulley was built successfully we tried to balance the 100 and 200 gram brass masses. After we completed this we attached an electronic force probe in place of our 100 gram brass mass. We then pulled the electronic force probe enough to lift our 200 gram(2 Newton) brass mass 5 centimeters. Then we measured how many centimeters of string we used to do this and came up with the answer of 11 centimeters. We did this again in a more fluid motion and the data was recorded on our electronic force probe, and then we averaged out the data and our mean came out to be 1.159. So our results were that it took 1.159 Newtons of force to go .11 meters. Also with using the models at the front of the class we were able to determine force and distance are inversely proportional, the more force you use the less distance you have to go, and the less force you use the more distance you have to go.

This relationship between force and distance can be found in several different situations in our world. This relationship comes into play sometimes when people have to lift heavy objects into apartments that aren't on the first floor. An example of this is what you see a lot of times on commercials when movers are using the pulley system to life couches, pianos, furniture, etc. into windows. Also in certain weight lifting machines at the gym, the more force you use the less distance you have to pull to lift the weight, and vice versa.A couple of examples of  modern day pulley systems are an elevator and a well.