cart with a fan on an aluminum track, sail
cart with a fan and sail on an aluminum track

 

Code Number: 1H10.20

Demo Title: Fan Cart and Sails

Condition: Good

Principle: Action & Reaction

Area of Study: Mechanics

Equipment: 

Fan Cart, Sail, and Pasco Aluminum Track.

Procedure:

NOTE:  The fan is also used for the 1C20.75 demo.  See: the 1C10.10 and 1J30.60 entries also.

Place the fan cart on a leveled aluminum track and turn on.  When released the cart should experience constant acceleration.

When doing action/reaction turn the fan on and show that the cart will move.  Place the sail on the cart and now the apparatus should stay in one place.

NOTE: On a completely frictionless surface the cart should move in the direction that the fan is blowing against the sail.

References:

  • Robert A. Morse, "Fan Unit Physics", TPT, Vol. 43, # 3, Mar. 2005, p. 162 - 165.
  • Robert A. Morse, "Constant Acceleration: Experiments with a Fan-Driven Dynamics Cart", TPT, Vol. 31, # 7, Oct. 1993, p. 436.
  • John W. Jewett, Jr., "DMU Physics - The Case of the Disappearing Time Intervals", TPT, Vol. 29, # 8, Nov. 1991, p. 563.
  • Paul Hewitt,  "Figuring Physics",  TPT, Vol. 26, # 1, p. 57, January 1988.
  • Pamela Lambert, "Newton's Third Survives", TPT, Vol. 24, # 7, Oct. 1986, p. 392.
  • Stuart L. Mills, "Fan Blades, Roadrunners, and Coyotes?", TPT, Vol. 24, # 7, Oct. 1986, p. 392.
  • C. J. Millar, "Tonque in Cheek?", TPT, Vol. 24, # 7, Oct. 1986, p. 392.
  • J. Wallingford, "Obvious??", TPT, Vol. 24, # 7, Oct. 1986, p. 392.
  • Carl. T. Rutledge, "The Obvious Answer Is Correct!", TPT, Vol. 24, # 7, Oct. 1986, p. 392.
  • James Guillory, "Old Solution Still Correct", TPT, Vol. 24, # 7, Oct. 1986, p. 393.
  • Keith Martinez and Michael Schulkins, "The H.M.S. Newton III", TPT, Vol. 24, # 7, Oct. 1986, p. 393.
  • Robert Beck Clark, "Response", TPT, Vol. 24, # 7, Oct. 1986, p. 393.
  • Robert Beck Clark.  "The Answer is Obvious.  Isn't It?",   TPT, Vol. 24, # 1, p. 38, Jan. 1986.
  • Earl Zwicker, Gerard Lietz, "The Sail-cart: A Free Giveaway", TPT, Vol. 20, # 9, Dec. 1982, p. 622 - 623.
  • Paul Robinson, Tom Carlson, Paul Jackson, "What Limits the Speed of a Sailboat?", TPT, Vol. 18, # 3, Mar. 1980, p. 224.
  • Richard S. Murphy, Jack Van Geldren, "A Note From the Real World", TPT, Vol. 16, # 5, May 1978, p. 260.
  • Robert J. Brown, Jr., "Another Newton's Sail-Boat", TPT, Vol. 10, # 9, Dec. 1972, p. 488.
  • J. Harris and A. Ahlgren, "Some Simple Experiments and Demonstrations", TPT, Vol. 4, # 7, Oct. 1966, p. 314.
  • Brian Lamore, "Fan Cart: The Next Generation", TPT, Vol. 54, #7, Oct. 2016, p. 408-409.
  • "Problem: Tacking in Still Air", AJP, Vol. 55, # 9, Sept. 1987, p. 829.
  • M- 324,  "Action and Reaction - Air Fan",  DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook.
  • M- 312,  "Two Carts and Medicine Ball",  DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook.
  • Stanley J. Micklavzina, "Impulses with Pasco Fan Carts", PIRA News, Vol. 10, # 4, April 1996, p. 33.
  • Bill Franklin, "Figuring Physics", Teaching About Impulse and Momentum, p. 2.21.
  • "79, The Impossible Dream",  Christopher P. Jargodzki and Franklin Potter,"  Mad About Physics, p. 28, 175.
  • Julius Sumner Miller, Q171 & A171, Millergrams II – Some More Enchanting Questions for Enquiring Minds, p. 42 & 97.
University of Maryland Physics Department QOTW Question #46
University of Maryland Physics Department QOTW Answer #46
1H10.20 - Fan Cart
1H10.20 - University of Maryland QOTW Question #46 Part 1
1H10.20 - University of Maryland QOTW Question #46 Part 2
1H10.20 - University of Maryland QOTW Question #46 Part 3
1H10.20 - University of Maryland QOTW Answer #46