A glider (of mass Mg) floats frictionlessly on an air track. A string and pulley connect the glider to a hanging mass (of mass Mh). When the glider is released it accelerates due to the force of gravity on the hanging mass. The value of the hanging mass is increased (while the glider mass remains constant) and the acceleration of the system (y, in m/s2) is measured as a function of the total system mass: Mg+Mh (x, in grams). The acceleration is measured with an accuracy of 0.06 m/s2.

Newton's laws predict that the acceleration will be given by the formula:

a = g ( 1 - Mg/x)

where g = 9.8 m/s2 is the acceleration of gravity. Therefore the data should fit an "inverse x" relationship, where

A = g

B = -gMg

so

Mg = -B/A

  1. Fit this data to an inverse x relationship.
  2. Consider Newton's scientific claim of an inverse x relationship. Does this evidence (data) confirm or contradict this claim? Support your answer quantitatively.
  3. Properly report (sigfigs, error, units) the A and B parameters of the best-fit function.
  4. Use a spreadsheet to calculate the glider mass, and properly report (sigfigs, error, units) the value.
  5. Self-document the spreadsheet and turn in a hardcopy of the page.
  6. Make a hardcopy plot of the data with best-fit curve. Make an additional hardcopy plot with scales chosen so as to linearize the curve.

X
(g)		Y
(m/s2)
2902.88
3003.19
3203.62
4104.91
4905.74
5906.42
7207.10
7307.03
7607.13
8707.61