pulleys, string on a stand with masses, blowtorch
pulleys, string on a stand with masses, person using a blowtorch

 

Code Number: 1G10.47

Demo Title: Modified Atwood's Machine

Area of Study: Mechanics 

Procedure: 

This modified Atwood's demonstration starts out with both sides in balance as with a regular Atwood's.  The modifications is that there is 340 grams on one side.  The other side has a 40 gram pulley with a 100 gram mass and a 200 gram mass hanging off each end of the string over it.  Connect the 100 and 200 gram masses together with a string so that they can't move and then balance the whole system.  When you burn the string between the two masses the 100 gram mass accelerates upward and the 200 gram mass accelerates downward.  The unexpected observation is that the 340 gram mass will also accelerate downward when the other two masses start to move, although you will need high speed video to see this clearly.  A video at 200 frames per second works nicely.  A neat demo illustrating accelerated reference frames.  

References:

  • Ricardo Coelho, "Experimental Justification of the Poggendorff Experiment", TPT, Vol. 60, #9, Dec. 2022, p. 762.
  • Tomas Kekule, "Poggendorff's Scales - Demonstration of Newton's Laws in a Less Traditional Way", TPT, Vol. 60, #9, Dec. 2022, p. 759.
  • Thomas B. Greenslade, Jr., ""Atwood's" Oscillator", AJP, Vol. 56, #12, Dec. 1988, p. 1151.  
  • Frank S. Crawford, "'Diagonalization' of a Compound Atwood Machine", AJP, Vol. 55, #6, June 1987, p. 514.
  • Borislaw Bilash II, “Law of Acceleration - Newton's Second Law“, A Demo A Day – A Year of Physical Science Demonstrations, p. 232.
  • Thomas B. Greenslade, Jr., ""Atwood's" Oscillator Lab", Developed From AJP, Vol. 56, #12, Dec. 1988, p. 1151.

Video Credit: Daniel Reinart

1G10.47 - Modified Atwood's Machine