1D10.15 - Car on a Moving Sheet - Velocity Addition

Code Number:
1D10.15
Demo Title:
Car on a Moving Sheet - Velocity Addition
Condition:
Excellent
Principle:
Velocity and Vector Addition
Area of Study:
Mechanics

Disclaimer

Equipment:
Toy cars with battery adapter for using with one or two batteries or variable speed Pasco car, cardboard sheet, cup targets, suction cup.
Procedure:

Place the car with one battery on the table so that it will move across the sheet and run into the cup on the other side.  Then do the same experiment, but pull the sheet at 90 degrees to the direction of the car.  You should be able to time the movement of the sheet so that the car runs into the back cup.  The suction cups will help when it comes to moving the sheet under the car.

Take out the battery adapter and add the second battery to make the car go with twice the velocity.

 

References:
  • Guy Vandegrift, "The River Needs a Cork", TPT, Vol. 46, # 7, Oct. 2008, p. 440.
  • David P. Taylor, "Vector Video", TPT, Vol. 39, #1, Jan. 2001, p. 14.
  • Paul Hewitt, "Figuring Physics", TPT, Vol. 38, #4, Apr. 2000, p. 216.
  • Harvey F. Blanch, "How To Avoid Niagara Falls", TPT, Vol. 37, #2, Feb. 1999, p. 78.
  • Bruce Gregory, "Flying in a Crosswind", TPT, Vol. 34, #6, Sept. 1996, p. 326.
  • Paul Hewitt, "Figuring Physics", TPT, Vol. 34, #4, Apr. 1996, p. 246.
  • Robert P. Bauman, "Are Arrows Vectors? and Similar Problems", TPT, Vol. 31, #7, Oct. 1993, p. 390.
  • Alfredo A. Louro, "Are Arrows Vectors? and Similar Problems", TPT, Vol. 31, #7, Oct. 1993, p. 390.
  • Nathan Brown, "Vector Addition and the Speeding Ticket", TPT, Vol. 31, #5, May 1993, p. 274.
  • Roger Blickensderfer, "Fighting the Current",TPT, Vol. 30, #1, Jan. 1992, p. 44.
  • Glenn L. Green, "Vector Addition Demonstration Apparatus", AJP, Vol. 48, #10, Oct. 1980, p. 887.
  • Martin Gardner, "Twiddled Bolts", Smart Science Tricks, p. 44.
  • Borislaw Bilash II and David Maiullo, "You Go This-a-way and I'll Go That-a-way", A Demo a Day: A Year of Physics Demonstrations, p. 25.

Disclaimer: These demonstrations are provided only for illustrative use by persons affiliated with The University of Iowa and only under the direction of a trained instructor or physicist.  The University of Iowa is not responsible for demonstrations performed by those using their own equipment or who choose to use this reference material for their own purpose.  The demonstrations included here are within the public domain and can be found in materials contained in libraries, bookstores, and through electronic sources.  Performing all or any portion of any of these demonstrations, with or without revisions not depicted here entails inherent risks.  These risks include, without limitation, bodily injury (and possibly death), including risks to health that may be temporary or permanent and that may exacerbate a pre-existing medical condition; and property loss or damage.  Anyone performing any part of these demonstrations, even with revisions, knowingly and voluntarily assumes all risks associated with them.