Required Practical 7: Acceleration

Question 1

1

Answer 1

Place the trolley on the dynamics track

Question 2

2

Answer 2

Use the spirit level to adjust the legs of the track so that it is horizontal

Question 3

3

Answer 3

Clamp the two light gates horizontally and place them above the track so that the card passes through them as the trolley moves across the track and so that they are 10cm apart

Question 4

4

Answer 4

Connect the light gate to the Ipad

Question 5

5a

Answer 5

You can test the setup is working as follows: When you are ready to start taking a measurement press play (green arrow) and then wait to see the timer zero,

Question 6

5b

Answer 6

Check the movement of the trolley by gently pushing it along the track with the software running. The acceleration should be close to zero as you move the
trolley at a steady speed through both light gates

Question 7

6

Answer 7

Tie a length of string to the trolley, pass the string over the pulley and attach the weight to stack the free end. Make sure the string is horizontal and is in line with the trolley. When you are ready to start taking a measurement, press Play (green arrow) and again wait for the timer to zero before releasing the trolley. It should accelerate through the light gates as the mass falls to the ground

Question 8

7

Answer 8

Make a table of results that show the weight and acceleration of the trolley

Question 9

8

Answer 9

Repeat the experiment adding a weight each time