Final answer:
The percent difference between experimental and actual values in an Atwood's machine experiment is calculated to determine the accuracy of experimental results. The statement that the efficiency of a simple machine is always less than 100 percent due to friction is true.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is about determining the percent difference between experimental and actual total mass (mtot, exp and m tot) in an Atwood's machine experiment. This calculation is an essential step in evaluating the accuracy and precision of experimental results in physics. To compute the percent difference, use the following formula:
(Experimental Value - Accepted Value) / ((Experimental Value + Accepted Value) / 2) * 100%
This will yield the percent difference, which indicates how much the experimental value deviates from the accepted value. Remember, a smaller percent difference signifies a more accurate experimental result.
Check Your Understanding
Regarding the true or false question, the statement that the efficiency of a simple machine is always less than 100 percent because of energy conversion to heat due to friction is True. In the context of the Atwood's machine, even though we often consider the pulley to be frictionless for simplicity, in real-world scenarios, friction is always a factor that reduces efficiency.
Calculating Tension in Atwood's Machine
To derive a general formula for tension in an Atwood's machine setup, you would account for the gravitational forces acting on both masses and the resulting acceleration of the system.