PURPOSE: To demonstrate the Horizontal Atwood Machine quantitatively.

DESCRIPTION: A mass m connected to a string passes over a pulley and is atttached to the Horizontal Atwood Machine, of mass M, as photographed. When the system is released, and begins to accelerate, the tension in the string is reduced, as can be read from the Force Probe attached to the cart. The tension T in the string while the system is accelerating can be calculated and compared with the tension observed with the static condition:

T = Mmg/(M+m) .

SUGGESTIONS:

REFERENCES: See Demonstration Reference File for sample calculation.

EQUIPMENT: Horizontal Atwood Machine with smaller mass on track with pulley, as photographed.

SETUP TIME: None.

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