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PS-2826
Preparation: 10 min
Activity: 20 min
Objectives
Students will be able to
use a Motion Sensor to measure the motion of a cart under four different conditions of force applied.
use the Xplorer GLX to record and display the position and velocity of the cart for the four conditions
of force applied.
describe the condition that is necessary for an object to remain at rest or for an object in motion to
remain in motion without any changes.
Notes
Students will make four measurements:
Motion of a cart that is at rest and does not experience a net force.
Motion of a cart that is at rest, and experiences a net force for a short time interval.
Motion of a cart that is initially at rest, but experiences a constant net force.
For all four data measurements, students follow the same basic steps.
The mathematical shorthand for Newtons First Law of Motion is if
net
(if
Sample Data
The screenshots in the Lab Report show the plots of position and velocity versus time for the
cart.
NOTE: The student sketches in the Lab Report could all be on the same set of axes; one set for
position and one set for velocity.
2006 PASCO
p. 17
Activity 6
PS-2826
What will happen to an object at rest if it is pushed, but there is a large frictional force
acting on the object?
If an object at rest is pushed, but there is a large frictional force acting on it, the object will move
for a short time and then come to rest again.
3.
What will happen to the motion of an object that is pushed, and there is very little frictional
force acting on the object?
If an object is pushed, and there is little frictional force acting on it, the object will continue to
move in a straight line at a relatively constant speed.
4.
What will happen to the motion of an object if there is a constant net force applied to it?
Data
Sketch your graphs of position versus time for the cart for all four runs. Include labels and units
for your y-axes and x-axes. (See the Sample Data screenshots.)
2006 PASCO
p. 18
Activity 6
PS-2826
Sketch your graphs for velocity versus time for the cart for all four runs. Include labels and units
for your y-axes and x-axes.
Questions
1.
What do your graphs show for the car in Run #1 (no force applied)?
Both the graphs of position and velocity show that there is no motion for the cart at rest.
2.
What does your velocity graph show for the cart in Run #2 (friction cart cart is pushed,
but has a large frictional force)?
The velocity graph shows that the cart that is pushed moves with for a short time and then stops.
3.
Why does the cart keep moving in Run #3 (low friction cart cart is pushed, and has little
frictional force)?
The low-friction cart continues to move because there is almost no force opposing its motion.
4.
The data run for the fan cart shows constantly accelerated motion.
5.
Why does the cart sliding on the friction block (Run #2) come to a stop so quickly?
The cart sliding on the friction block comes to a stop quickly because there is a force opposing
its motion
6.
2006 PASCO
p. 19
Activity 6
7.
PS-2826
2006 PASCO
p. 20