Newtons Second Law

A student is provided with a trolley and a track as shown in the diagram below. He is required to apply different forces to the trolley, measure the corresponding accelerations and hence demonstrate the relationship between the two.

Question:
"In such an experiment, the track is given a slight tilt to compensate for friction.Why is this necessary if the relationship suggested by Newton’s second law is to be successfully demonstrated?"

I dont understand what this question is ultimately asking.

Any help would be appreciated.

Reply 1

imtired

it's asking you to demonstrate newton's second law (f=ma)

use the equipment to measure the force required for each acceleration and find the relationship.

Reply 2

teachercol

You want to show a is prop to the force you apply

This isnt true if friction acts so we titlt the runway slightly so that the trolley ill roll at constant vel in the absence of an apllied force - this is know nas friction compensation.

Reply 3

sonic23

teachercol

Oh. If friction is not compensated for by tilting the runway, the measured force would be greater than then resultant force. Friction is compensated for so that the reading of the force being applied is the resultant force and not the resulant force + friction.

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