PASCO ME-9812 Roller Coaster - Manual (Page 12)

Model No. ME-9812 Roller Coaster
11 ®
4. Adding Ballast Mass and Additional Masses
The ballast mass fits underneath
the car (Figure 10) and is
attached using an M5 screw
(supplied with the rollercoaster).
Additional cylindrical masses
can be placed on top of the car in
the mass tray. If a bumper is
installed on the car, additional
masses can be added by inserting
a 6-32 screw up from the bottom
of the car through the threaded
hole in the bumper's mass tray. The masses fit over the threaded screw
to help keep them from slipping off the car. Alternatively, the masses
can be secured on the bumper by putting the screw in from the top.
5. Coupling Three Cars
The bumpers are used to
couple two or three cars
together for a roller coaster
train. To couple the cars,
first put rubber bands on the
bumpers. Then place the
pointed front bumper of the
trailing car over the rubber
band of the car in front of it,
letting it fit loosely into the
"V" slot of the leading car.
(See Figure 11).
6. Stacking Two Cars
One car will stack on top of another car for doubling the mass and for
storage of cars.
7. Car Center of Mass Location
The center of mass of a car (without added masses) is approximately
located on the side of the car in the center of the slot for the photogate
flag. The exact location of the center of mass can be determined by
balancing the car on a knife edge.
Figure 10: Ballast mass on
underside of car
ballast mass
V-slot
Figure 11: Two cars connected
together