Laboratory I: Physics Laboratory Skills9

Introduction5

Laboratory Skills

Laboratory I: Physics Laboratory Skills9

Problem #1: Constant Velocity Motion 111

Problem #2: Constant Velocity Motion 217

Problem #3: Measurement and Uncertainty23

Laboratory I Cover Sheet27

General Laws of Motion

Laboratory II: Motion and Force29

Problem #1: Falling31

Problem #2: Motion Down an Incline35

Problem #3: Motion Up and Down an Incline39

Problem #4: Normal Force and Frictional Force43

Problem #5: Velocity and Force47

Problem #6: Two-Dimensional Motion 51

Table of Coefficients of Friction 55

Check Your Understanding57

Laboratory II Cover Sheet59

Laboratory III: Statics61

Problem #1: Springs and Equilibrium I63

Problem #2: Springs and Equilibrium II67

Problem #3: Leg Elevator71

Problem #4: Equilibrium of a Walkway75

Problem #5: Designing a Mobile79

Problem #6: Mechanical Arm83

Check Your Understanding87

Laboratory III Cover Sheet89

Laboratory IV: Circular Motion and Rotation91

Problem #1: Circular Motion93

Problem #2: Rotation and Linear Motion at Constant Speed97

Problem #3: Angular and Linear Acceleration101 Problem #4: Moment of Inertia of a Complex System 105

Problem #5: Moments of Inertia About Different Axes109

Problem #6: Rolling and Torque113

Laboratory IV Cover Sheet115

Conservation Laws

Laboratory V: Conservation of Energy117

Problem #1: Elastic and Gravitational Energy119

Problem #2: Pendulum Velocity123

Problem #3: Velocity and Energy127

Problem #4: Kinetic Energy and Work131

Problem #5: Kinetic Energy and Work II133

Laboratory V Cover Sheet137

Laboratory VI: Conservation of Momentum139

Problem #1: Perfectly Inelastic Collisions141

Problem #2: Perfectly Elastic Collisions145

Problem #3: Conservation of Angular Momentum149

Laboratory VI Cover Sheet153

Oscillation

Laboratory VII: Oscillations155

Problem #1: Measuring Spring Constants157

Problem #2: Oscillation Frequency with Two Springs161

Problem #3: Oscillation Frequency of an Extended System165

Problem #4: Driven Oscillations169

Problem #5: Simple Pendulum173

Check Your Understanding177

Laboratory VII Cover Sheet179

Heat Energy and Fluid Motion

Laboratory VIII: Heat Energy and Fluid Motion181

Problem #1: Power and Temperature Change183

Problem #2: Specific Heat of Simple Objects187

Problem #3: Specific Heat of Complex Objects191

Problem #4: Mechanical Energy and Temperature Change195

Problem #5: Motion in a Fluid199

Table: Thermal Properties203

Laboratory VIIICover Sheet205

Appendix: Equipment207

Appendix: Software221

Appendix: Significant Figures249

Appendix: Accuracy, Precision and Uncertainty – Error Analysis253

Appendix: Review of Graphs261

Appendix: Guide to Writing Lab Reports269

Appendix: Sample Lab Reports275

Acknowledgments

Much of the work to develop this problem solving laboratory was supported by the University of Minnesota and the National Science Foundation. We would like to thank all the people who have contributed directly to the development of this laboratory manual:

Heather Brown / Andy Ferstl / Tom Foster
KaiyanGao / Charles Henderson / Ted Hodapp
Andrew Kunz / Vince Kuo / Laura McCullough
Michael Myhrom / Jeremy Paschke / Leon Steed
Hao Wang / Paul Barsic / YaroslavLutsyshyn
Zhaoliang Pan / Yousi Ma / RhonaldLua
Tom Thaden-Koch / Yves Adjallah / Matthew Fritts
Tao Hu / Maribel Núñez V. / Ivan Gordeli
Sean Albiston / Steve Gardeen / Andrew Gustafson

And all of the faculty and graduate students who helped to find the 'bugs' in these instructions.

Kenneth & Patricia Heller