A laboratory trolley is to be used for demonstrating how the inertial mass of a body…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · Force and Laws of Motion · Force and Laws of Motion
Problem
A laboratory trolley is to be used for demonstrating how the inertial mass of a body can be obtained from its motion under a horizontal force.
(i) Define inertial mass.
(ii) Outline an experimental procedure by which a constant horizontal force can be applied to the trolley and its acceleration measured accurately. State the measurable physical quantities required to calculate the inertial mass.
(iii) The track is not perfectly level and exerts a small frictional force on the trolley. Explain qualitatively how each of the following will affect the value of inertial mass obtained:
(a) the track slopes slightly downward in the direction of motion,
(b) the surface offers a small kinetic friction coefficient μk.
Suggest one method for minimising the combined effect of these errors.