Computer Intensive Physics
Day 3

Physics 211

Spring, 1998
January 20, 1998

Create a Word file with the file name MBL-3_{your team names}
Exploring Motion by Pushing a Cart:

Equipment:Motion detector, Low-friction cart, Low-friction track.

Arrange the system as shown below:

[Note: by very slightly inclining the track you can use a little pull of gravity to
overcome the small amount of friction, i.e. if you give the cart a small push it will
continue to roll as constantspeed, if you have correctly inclined the track.]

A Word of Caution!
The low-friction equipment you will be using in the following
experiments will operate well only if the track is nearly level(flat) and if
the grooves in the tracks are clean and smooth. Use care when placing the
carts on the tracks to be sure the wheels are not damaged and that they are
aligned with the grooves. If the grooves are dirty, use a Kim wipe with a
little of the provided cleaning fluid to clean them.

Study the motion using the MBL software. Take turns in your team by matching the
following motions by pushing horizontally on the cart with your hand. There are
two different situations for each motion versus time graph.

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