Hover Disk Lab

In class last week we did the hover disc lab. We analyzed the effects of gravitational, frictional, and normal forces on the disc. In my opinion it was a very cool lab because it was the first time that we used all three of Newton's laws of motion together.  
                                 

                                 

3 Laws of Motion:

1. If an object is at rest or at a constant speed, it will remain that way unless it experiences a net force.
2. A=netF/m or netF=ma
3. When two object interact, they exert equal but opposite force upon each other.

We put this knowledge to use by creating interaction and free body diagrams for the lab. Interaction diagrams show the dynamics of force within an entire system. On the other hand, a free body diagram focuses on only one object of the system and only shows the forces acting upon it. One situation we depicted with both diagrams is below. The interaction diagram is followed by the free body diagram.

I think that being able to draw these diagrams is very helpful for visually understanding situations in the world around us. Drawing the diagrams really forces you to think about all the individual forces these objects are experiencing. It also helps explain the dynamics between the force of gravity and the normal force.