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Interactive Simulations for Teaching Physics
Atwood's Machine
Authors: Ms. Giselle dos Santos Castro - Federal University of Ceara - UFC
Dr. Nildo Loiola Dias - Federal University of Ceara - UFC
CONTROLS:
- The red cursor lets you choose the mass of the red block.
- The blue cursor lets you choose the mass of the blue block. The simulation places the block with the greatest mass in the top position.
- Choose the local gravity from three possibilities (Earth, Moon and Mars).
- The RELEASE button allows the movement of blocks and at the same time starts the stopwatch.
- Press the STOP TIME button to stop the stopwatch.
- The RESET button puts the blocks in the initial position and resets the timer.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SIMULATION:
This simulation allows the study of Newton's second law through the Atwood’s machine: two bodies, connected by a rope of negligible mass passing through an ideal pulley. Their masses can independently be chosen by individual cursors. A stopwatch makes it possible to measure the movement time and thus calculate the acceleration of the system in order to relate it to the resulting force. It is also possible to simulate the Atwood’s Machine at different gravities and determine the local gravity acceleration.
For an analysis of the data, consult one of the proposed ACTIVITY GUIDE.
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