Part 1 : Hanging 10 grams Set up an air track and your motion detector so that you can successfully measure the motion of the air cart on the track. The track should be set up so that it is as perfectly level as you can get it. A string will be attached to the end of the air cart and run over a pulley so that a mass can be hung on the end. The air cart should have all 4 silver masses on it for parts 1 and 2. Record the total mass of the air cart including the extra masses. You should hang 10 grams from the string and measure the position and velocity graphs of the cart motion. Use the linear fit function on the computer to calculate the average slope of the velocity which is the average acceleration for the cart. Is the slope of the velocity changing or constant?
question (draw it) : Predict what the position, velocity and acceleration (versus time) graphs will look like when this constant force is applied. That is, draw the graphs, and try to make them qualitatively correct (straight, curved, level, slanted, above the time axis, below, etc. Remember that the device registers all positions as positive, and motion away from the device has positive velocity
Part 2 : Hanging 20 grams What happens if you double the hanging mass? Hang 20 grams on the string and measure the acceleration of the cart. Use the analyze tool to find the average acceleration of the cart. It will help you to see the relationship if you try a few other masses (15 grams?, 25 grams? 30 grams....). Construct a table of at least 3 additional masses (larger than 10 grams but less than 50 grams) along with their corresponding accelerations. Look at how acceleration changes from part 1 to your new masses in part 2. Use the table that you have collected to find a general relationship between hanging mass and acceleration. Consider the following after you have figured out the relationship
question (draw it) : Predict what the position, velocity and acceleration (versus time) graphs will look like when this constant force is applied. That is, draw the graphs, and try to make them qualitatively correct (straight, curved, level, slanted, above the time axis, below, etc.