PASCO ME-9812 Roller Coaster - Manual (Page 9)

Roller Coaster Model No. ME-9812
8 ®
• It can be used as a catcher on the Rotating Platform (ME-8951) to
perform a conservation of angular momentum experiment: The car
goes off the end of the track, into the catcher, and the platform rotates.
a) To attach catcher to the track,
squeeze the spring metal clip and
insert the clip into the slot on the
bottom of the track, then release
the clip (See Figure 5). To create a
rubber band bumper, stretch a
rubber band across the two posts
that stick up on the end of the
catcher. If you want the catcher to
catch the car, orient the catcher so
the car enters the end of the
catcher opposite the end with the
rubber band bumper. If you want
the car to bounce off, orient the
catcher so the car hits the rubber band bumper.
b) The catcher can be
placed anywhere on the
track. It can be placed
between adjacent pegs or a
peg can be inserted
through the center hole of
the catcher on either side
of the spring clip. When
using a clamp-on pulley,
insert a peg through the
catcher so the peg doesn't
interfere with the pulley
(see Figure 6). The pulley
clamps onto the lower
section of the catcher.
Note: Clamping pulleys directly to the track is not recommended
because the track will deform.
6. Using the Track without a Support Board
The track can be used without the support board. It can be laid out flat
on the table or floor or taped to a board with double-stick foam tape.
The cars will function on the track even when the track is laying flat on
the table. However, because of the wheel protectors, the cars will not
roll on a flat surface without the track.
Figure 5: Attaching the
catcher to the track (side view)
track
catcher
metal clip
rubber band
pulley
catcher
track
clamp
pulley
Figure 6: Clamping the pulley to the
catcher
peg