air track, laptop

 

Code Number: 1C20.30

Demo Title: Inclined Air Track - Timed Intervals

Condition:  Good

Principle: Acceleration Due to Gravity

Area of Study: Mechanics

Equipment: 

Air track, 1or 3" blocks, laptop computer, computer interface, photo gates, protractor, meter stick.

Procedure:

Put the block under one end of the air track and measure the angle if desired.  Set the photo gates and the desired position and if needed carefully measure the distance between the gates.  Release the car with one of the 10cm flags on it and measure the time through the two gates.

One of the 2.5 inch blocks placed under the end should give an angle of about 1.8 degrees.  Two of those blocks will give about 3.6 degrees.

References:

  • Witchayaporn Namchanthra, Chokchai Puttharugsa, "LED Gates for Measuring Kinematic Parameters Using the Ambient Light Sensor of a Smartphone", TPT, Vol. 59, #4, April 2021, p. 298.
  • Walter Hellman, "Galilean Tracks in the Physics Lab", TPT, Vol. 49, #8, Nov. 2011, p. 474.
  • David Wheeler, "Significant Errors", TPT, Vol. 39, #6, Sept. 2001, p. 324.
  • D.D. Venable, A.P. Batra, and T. Hubsch, "Modifying the Inclined Plane Experiment", TPT, Vol. 39, #4, Apr. 2001, p. 215.
  • David Wheeler, "An Error-Free Method", TPT, Vol. 38, #1, Jan. 2000, p. 4.
  • Roger F. Larson, "Measuring the Coefficient of Friction of a Low-Friction Cart", TPT, Vol. 36, #8, Nov. 1998, p. 464.
  • Robert G. Mentzer, "Measuring the Acceleration Due to Gravity: An experiment Galileo Could Have Run", TPT, Vol. 22, #9, Dec. 1984, p. 580.
  • Robert Kern Curtis, "More on Measuring g", TPT, Vol. 17, #1, Jan. 1979, p. 10.
  • Bruce Bernero, "Another Experiment to Measure g", TPT, Vol. 16, #8, Nov. 1978, p. 558.
  • Paul D. Sherman, "Galileo and the Inclined Plane Controversy", TPT, Vol. 12, #6, Sept. 1974, p. 343.
  • E. W. Guptill, G. Stroink, R. H. March, "A Lecture Demonstration of Linear Motion Using the Airtrack", AJP, Vol. 45, #10, Oct. 1977, p. 1005.
  • Jodi and Roy McCullough, "Acceleration with a Stringracer", The Role of Toys in Teaching Physics", 2000, p. 3.4.
  • Robert Ehrlich, "A.3. Rolling Balls Down an Inclined Ruler", Turning the World Inside Out, p. 6.
  • Robert P. Crease, "The Alpha Experiment: Galileo and the Inclined Plane", The Prism & The Pendulum, Ch. 3, p. 42.
1C20.30 - Inclined Air Track - Timed Intervals