PASCO ME-9430 Dynamics Cart with Mass - Manual (Page 8)

012-04840E Dynamics Cart
4
®
Procedure
1. Once you have roughly determined the range of the cart, clearly mark a distance, d, that is
about half way out from the start. Measure this distance and record it at the top of Table 1.1.
2. Using a stopwatch with a lap timer and metric tape, you can determine t
1
, T and D for each
launch. Practice this step a few times before you start recording data.
NOTE: To eliminate reaction time errors, have the person who launches the cart also be the
timer!
3. Launch the cart and record the data described in the previous step for six trials. 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. (NOTE: If the timer feels that a distraction interfered with the measurement, don't count
that trial.) Record your best trials in Table 1.1.
4. Using the equations described in the Theory section and the data recorded in the table, do the
calculations needed to complete the table.
Data Analysis
d = _______cm
t
1
(sec) T (sec) D (cm) v
o
(cm/s) a (cm /s 2 ) t
1
(sec)
% Diff.
Theory Experiment
Trial
1
5
4
3
2
6
Table 1.1
Questions
1. Is there a systematic difference between the experimental and calculated values of t
1
? If so,
suggest possible factors that would account for this difference.
2. Can you think of a simple follow-up experiment that would allow you to determine how much
the cart’s “deceleration” was affected by floor slope?