PASCO ME-9486 BALLISTIC CART ACCESSORY - Manual (Page 11)

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012-05460A Ballistic Cart Accessory
Experiment 2: Tunnel - Demonstration
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
– Ballistic Cart Accessory (ME-9486)
– Dynamics Cart and track
– Cardboard box (33 cm {13"} cube) for tunnel (construction details given below)
Purpose
This demonstration shows that the ball can be caught by the cart even if the cart passes through a
tunnel while the ball is in the air. The tunnel accentuates the parabolic path of the ball.
Procedure
➀
Prior to the beginning of the demonstration, perform the Setup procedure.
➁
Construct a tunnel from a cardboard box: Cut the flaps off two opposing ends of the box. Cut a
15 cm wide, 27 cm high hole in these two opposing ends of the box. See Figure 2.1.
➂
Set the box upside-down over the middle of the dynamics track. Check the clearance by running
the cart through the tunnel.
➃
Position the photogate trip bracket in front of the tunnel so the ball will be launched just before
the cart enters the tunnel.
➄
Load the ball and push the cart toward the tunnel. You may have to practice to get the right
speed so the cart will make it through the tunnel before the ball comes down.
➤
CAUTION! You must catch the cart with your hand before the cart reaches the end stop on
the track because the cart will derail when it’s moving fast.
tunnel
trip bracket
Ballistic Cart
Accessory
CAUTION! DO NOT LOOK DOWN BARREL
ON WHEN
FLASHING
BALLISTIC CART
ACCESSOR
Y
BALL LAUNCHER PHOT OGA TE
DROP ROD JACK
POWER
OFF
ON
Figure 2.1: Tunnel