Investigating Newton's first law in a pulley system

Abstract

This experiment examined how force, mass, and acceleration relate in a one-mass pulley system. We measured the force acted upon a spring (Equivalent to the Tension in the spring) and compared it to the weight of the mass used in the experiment, factoring in Earth's gravity rounded to -9.81 m/s². By securing one end of the spring scale and the other end to the string attached to the mass, we tested whether the measured force matched what we expected based on the mass and gravity. Our results showed that the tension in the system changed depending on the total mass hanging. This supports the inverse relationship between mass and acceleration described by statics, e.g. F=0, which highlights how forces balance to prevent movement under certain conditions.