Station 2

In this station, we examined the situation of a 5 kilogram mass on a force plate. We specifically looked at what forces were acting on the mass. The two forces acting on the mass were the normal force of the force plate going upwards and the gravitational force of the earth going downwards. We measured the normal force to be 50 Newtons, and since the object had constant velocity, the net force had to be zero. This means that the gravitational force also equals 50 Newtons. We then saw that as the incline increased, the magnitude of the normal force decreased and vice versa. I honestly tried as hard as I could to put a picture of my free body diagrams but I just couldn't find a way how to. In order for the net force to be zero (since the mass is not moving) when the incline is raised, there has to be another force that is equal to the normal force and at the same angle as the incline. That force is frictional. Since you know what the gravitational and normal forces' magnitudes were, you can find the size of the frictional force by having it make the net force equal to zero.

Also, I see that Zach posted something about this station right before I did. I was honestly almost done. I hope that's alright.