- Open the program found here.
- Look at all the different possible surfaces and pick the one that you would like to study.
- Use the up and down arrows to change the mass of the object on the table. I would like you to do 10 different masses through the course of this experiment.
- Set up a data table to track the mass of the object on the table, the force normal (equal to gravity), and the force applied (equal to friction).
- Hit the start button and watch as the person pulling on the box increases the force applied. At some point the box should start to move across the table at a slow and steady speed. Write down what seems to be the average force needed to pull the object at a slow and steady speed.
- Record your estimated force in your data table as your force applied/force friction column.
- Repeat this procedure for 9 other masses.
- Make a graph of force friction vs. force normal. (There’s an example on this page.)
- Give a sentence of conclusion telling what you learned and sources of error.
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