Force Lab Table

A vector is a quantity having direction as well as magnitude, especially as determining the position of one point in space relative to another. A vector is a measure which has both magnitude and direction. For example vectors include displacement, velocity, acceleration, and force. To fully describe one of these vector quantities, you need to tell both the magnitude and the direction. For instance, if the velocity of an object were said to be 25 m/s, then the description of the object's velocity is incomplete; the object could be moving 25 m/s south, or 25 m/s north or 25 m/s southeast. To fully describe the object's velocity, both magnitude (25 m/s) and direction (e.g., south) must be told. According to Newton's second law of motion, a body undergoes an acceleration that is directly proportional to the net force exerted on it. Since both these quantities are vectors, this means that the net force and acceleration are in the same direction and their magnitudes are directly proportional to each other. In static equilibrium, a body is not moving. Then the acceleration is zero and from Newton's second law the net force must also be zero.
A Force table is a common physics lab equipment that has three or more chains or cables attached to a center ring. The chains or cables apply forces upon the center ring in three different directions. Usually the experimenter adjusts the direction of the three forces, makes measurements of the amount of force in each direction, and determines the vector sum of three forces. Forces perpendicular to the plane of the force board are typically ignored in the analysis. In order to complete this lab we used a force table, accessories, level,standard weights. And weight hangers. In order to complete the first lab we had to level the table and connect the rings to the pulleys. Next, we determined the spring scale and verified the weights.