Robotics Activity #2 – Pulley System

During class we conducted a different experiment using the same Lego Mindstorm robots. By using the Lego Mindstorm motor we operated a pulley system. The experiment was to teach us Newton’s 2nd Law which is “the acceleration of an object as produced by a net force is directly proportional to the magnitude of the net force, in the same direction as the net force, and inversely proportional to the mass of the object.” The setup of the Lego Mindstorm for this experiment included connecting the Lego Mindstorm to the computer by using the USB cable followed by connecting port A to the Lego Mindstorm arm. We then had a string and some weights connected to the arm which worked by pulling up and down. Our’s was faulty at the start, where it would not stop through the computer to record the data, the string did get tangled several times until our Professor came and helped us with an new Lego Mindstorm robot. With her help we were able to record our results on the spreadsheet correctly. We programed our Lego Mindstorm by the power of weight and the mass of the weights at the base of the pulley system. Like stated before Dr. Shatz helped us change the power level on the computer to command the Lego Mindstorm because our results did not record correctly, we also changed the weights for a varied result. 

The controls were power and mass kg with the indicators on the program representing millivolts, rotation, battery discharge (mv), speed (rpm), time (s) and acceleration (rpm/s). 

In this experiment to represent Newton’s 2nd Law the power level was the force (f=ma). When the weight was lifted by the pulley system work was being done. By changing the energy applied by work of the weights (work=f) we changed the energy of the weights. 

In addition we learned that due to a loss in friction when the weight is being pulled up this causes not all of the energy to be put into lifting the weights up. 

Power = Work/Time 

Below are our results and an image of a pulley system which was similar to ours. 

Screen Shot 2016-02-24 at 9.25.34 AM

Pulley

Overall this experiment was great because it demonstrated Newton’s 2nd Law.

Reference:

http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/newtlaws/Lesson-3/Newton-s-Second-Law

18 thoughts on “Robotics Activity #2 – Pulley System”

  1. Great job doing some extra research on Newton’s 2nd law. This law is very essential to understanding the process by which the weight is lifted by the pulley. When we began the experiment, I thought f=ma meant that the only thing that mattered was the mass of the weights, but friction is also very important in understanding where the energy goes.

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