Exploring the Circular Atwood Machine: Insights from Smartphone Sensors and Moment of Inertia Analysis - PhysLab

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Exploring the Circular Atwood Machine: Insights from Smartphone Sensors and Moment of Inertia Analysis

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Researchers Muhammad Salman Hassan
Time Frame Summer 2024
Supplementary Materials Spinner with a smartphone
Description
This innovative study presents an experimental examination of the Circular Atwood Machine using a home-built setup integrated with smartphone technology. The research bridges classical physics principles with contemporary measurement techniques to validate fundamental relationships in rotational dynamics. The study was conducted by Muhammad Salman Hassan, who is an A-level student at Aitchison College. He worked in Physlab in the summer of 2024 as a RISE scholar.

The experimental setup consisted of a rotating disc with adjustable masses and a hanging weight system. Using the Phyphox app on our smartphone that uses gyroscope sensors, we captured real-time measurements of the system’s rotational behaviour, transforming a traditional physics experiment into a modern digital investigation.

(a)

(b)

Figure 1. (a) Setup of the circular Atwood machine, and (b) reading of gyroscope sensor.

The primary focus was validating the inverse relationship between angular acceleration (α) and the square of the distance from the center to the masses (r²). The results demonstrated a clear linear trend with a slope of 2.75 and an intercept of 0.058, confirming the theoretical predictions. By varying the radius from 30mm to 115mm, we measured angular accelerations ranging from 16.07 rad/s² to 10.40 rad/s².

(a)

(b)

Figure 2. (a) Scheme of the circular Atwood machine, and (b) Graph of 1/α and r².

This investigation shows how modern technology can transform traditional physics experiments into precise scientific investigations. The success of this home-built setup in validating theoretical relationships suggests that similar approaches could be valuable for both research and educational purposes in physics laboratories.


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    • Fast Optics
    • Smart Physics
    • Single Photon Quantum Mechanics Lab
    • Chasing Cosmic Ray Muons at Physlab
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    • Research Stories
    • Class Activities
    • Courses Taught
    • Class Demonstrations
    • PhysDiary
    • Health and Safety
    • Lab Safety
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  • Research
    • Research Themes
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    • Research Stories
    • Physics WorldCup
      • International Young Physicists’ Tournament (IYPT) 2019
      • International Young Physicists’ Tournament (IYPT) 2018
      • International Young Physicists’ Tournament (IYPT) 2016
    • Hunerkada
    • Grants
    • Theses and Reports
    • Scientific Publications
    • Invited Talks (Selected)
  • Outreach
    • Media
      • Lectures, Podcasts and Interviews
      • Videobytes
      • YouTube Channel
      • Visitors
      • Testimonials
    • The Scientific Mind Through the Eyes of a Physics Experimenter
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      • First Lahore 2012
      • Second Sukkur 2013
      • Third Lahore 2014
      • Fourth Lahore 2016
    • Labview Workshop 2016
    • Open house
      • 2009-2015
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    • Khwarizmi Science Society
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      • Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences
        (PIEAS) 2019 (Final Phase)
      • Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences
        (PIEAS) 2019 (Phase 2)
      • Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences
        (PIEAS) 2018 (Phase 1)
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      • Preston University 2013
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        Engineering Sciences and Technology 2011
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