Mb-3 Newton's Cart
Published: Thursday 09 March 2006 - Updated: Wednesday 02 May 2007
Aim
To demonstrate that force can be resolved into its individual components.
Apparatus
- PASCO TM Newton's Cart
- Stopwatch and Ruler
- Extra Masses
Diagrams
Click on pictures to enlarge.
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Description
Newton's Cart has a propeller attached to it, which can be rotated through 180 degrees. At zero degrees the propeller will produce the maximum acceleration, while the propeller set at 90 degrees will produce zero net acceleration in the forward direction. The acceleration can be measured with a stopwatch and can be used to confirm component calculations. Also masses may be placed on the cart to vary the acceleration so as to demonstrate Newton's Second Law.