Reducing friction with a dynamic cart minimizes the principal error in the net force-acceleration relationship investigation. This enhances measurement accuracy, ensuring the net force is predominantly from the hanging weight, thereby improving overall validity. Here option A is correct.
The greatest source of error in the investigation of the relationship between net force and acceleration on a 1-kg block is most likely due to friction between the block and the table. To reduce this error, one could use a dynamic cart which has wheels designed to minimize friction, hence providing more accurate measurements of acceleration due to the net force.
Statement A correctly identifies this source of error, suggesting that the use of a dynamic cart would help in reducing the error by minimizing friction. This is because dynamic carts are typically designed with low-friction wheels and bearings. In contrast, the other statements (B, C, and D) either suggest changing the mass of objects without addressing the friction problem or replacing the hanging mass with a spring scale, which would not necessarily reduce the principal source of error in this setup.
By reducing friction through the use of a dynamic cart, one can ensure the net force is predominantly due to the hanging weight, which will improve the accuracy of the acceleration measurements and the investigation's overall validity. Here option A is correct.
Complete question:
Two students are investigating the relationship between net force and acceleration on an object. They tie a string to a 1-kg block resting on a horizontal table. The string is run over a pulley and attached to a 100-gram weight hanging above the floor. The acceleration of the block is then calculated as the block falls to the floor.
Which statement would best describe the greatest source of error in this investigation and suggest a reasonable method to reduce this error?
A) The block would have friction and a dynamic cart could be used.
B) The block on the table has too much mass and should be increased
C) The falling mass is too small to accelerate the block and should be increased.
D) A pulley has friction and the hanging mass should be replace with a spring scale.