Atwood machine

Newton’s second law of motion: Atwood machine

Most of the students were not that familiar with Atwood machine when entering in a Physics laboratory because it is not that attractive but when the professor, introduce the apparatus, students appreciate the importance of it in learning Physics.

Atwood machine was used to demonstrate the principle of Newton’s Second law of motion which is commonly known as Law of acceleration.

The formula used in this experiment was from the kinematics equation which is d = Vi t + ½ at^2. Of course the experiment starts from rest so the formula then was simplified to d = ½ at^2 . From this equation the formula of acceleration was then derived.

a= 2d

t^2 This serves as experimental value of acceleration.

On the other hand the formula for theoretical value of acceleration was derived from Force = weight which means a (m1 + m2) = (m2-m1) g. From here the formula of acceleration was derived

a= (m 2-m1) g

(m 1 + m2)

.