PASCO ME-6950 PAScar with Mass User Manual

Page 7

012-07361B

PAScar with Mass

Procedure

1. Place the car in its starting position and then launch it. To cock the spring plunger,

push the plunger in, and then push the plunger slightly upward to allow one of the
notches on the plunger bar to “catch” on the edge of the small metal bar at the top of
the hole. Using a stopwatch and metric tape, determine the range d and the total time
spent rolling t. Record these in Table 2.1.

2. Repeat step 1six times for each direction and enter your results in Table 2.1.

3. Using EQN-3, compute the accelerations corresponding to your data and an average

acceleration for each of the two directions.

4. Using the results of step 3, determine µ

and

θ by algebraically solving for the two

unknowns.

Average Acceleration = __________

d (cm)

t (sec)

a ( )

Second Direction

Trial

d (cm)

t (sec)

a ( )

First Direction

Trial

Table 2.1

Data Analysis

Coefficient of rolling friction = ________________ Floor Angle = ________________

Questions

1. Can you think of another way to determine the acceleration of the car? If you have

time, try it!

2. How large is the effect of floor slope compared to that of rolling friction?

Average Acceleration = __________