Torque Physics Simulation Physics 2010

Name:                                                                                     Torque           Lab                            

Go to:  http://phet.colorado.edu/simulations/sims.php?sim=Torque and click Run Now.

Torque

1. Click the tab at the top that says torque
2. Set the force equal to 1 N.
3. Click Go let this run for at least 10 seconds
4. What is the torque on the wheel (include direction). 

1. What eventually happens to the lady bug?

1. From Newton’s second law, a force will cause an  ______.
   

1. When considering angular motion, a torque will cause an  ___________ (consider both torque equations)

1. What must be the centripetal force that keeps the lady bug moving in a circle

1. Why does this force eventually fail? 

1. Reset all, and set the force back to 1 N.
2. Observe the acceleration vector as you start.  Describe how it changes.

1. Will the acceleration vector ever point directly to the center?   Why / Why not? (the next steps might help you answer this question)

1. Reset all.  Set the force back to 1 N.
2. Hit start, wait about 2 seconds, and set the brake force to 1 N.  Hit enter and observe.
3. Describe the motion of the wheel: 

1. What happened to the acceleration vector?

Why?

1. What is the net torque? 

1. Reset all.  Set the Force back to 1 N.  Hit Start.
2. After a few seconds, set the brake force equal to 3N and hit enter.
3. Right after you set the break force, calculate the net torque (check with the graph) 

1. Eventually the disc stops and the net torque is zero.  This is because the breaking torque changed as you can see in the graph.  Why did it change? 

roel

okay