The Air Track Experiment

Cedric Mendes
Physics 151 Section QL
Thursdays 4:40 PM
Hasbrouck 214
October 7, 2015
Abstract
In the experiment we measure an experimental value of g. We use a glider and sensor to calculate
an experimental g. The dimensions of g should be relative close to the real value of g. Our
objective is to measure t within a precision of 10%. Our measurement of g is = 8.7739

Questions & Answers

1. Plot a graph of a vs m/(m+M) from data Logger Pro. Perform a linear fit. What
quantity does the slope represent? State (separately from your plot) the slope and yintercept with their respective uncertainties. (2 pts)

Accceleration vs Mass Ratio

1.2
f(x) = 8.77x + 0.05
R = 0.99

1
0.8

Acceleration (m/s/s) 0.6

0.4
0.2
0

0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08

0.1

0.12 0.14

Mass Ratio

The slope of the graph represents the gravity acting on the cart.
The slope is 8.774 .4470
The y-intercept is .0517 .03557
2. Compare your slope value to the predicted value. Are they the same within
uncertainties? If not, how many standard deviations is your value from the predicted
value? (1 point)

No, there are 2.3 standard deviations from the predicted value.
3. In lab we treated the hanging mass and the glider as one system, but it can be
informative to look at each mass separately.
a. Write out Newtons 2nd Law (F=ma) for both the glider and the hanging mass.
Include all relevant forces, and write separate equations for the x and y direction for
each mass. b. Why didnt we consider the tension (T), in the string between the glider
and the hanging mass when we were discussing the motion of the system in lab (and
in equations 2.2 and 2.3 in the lab manual)? (2 points)
Fglider(x)=MGAG
Fglider(y)= 0 because the cart does not lift itself off the air track. The normal force will also
balance out the weight of the glider N = MGg
Fhanger(x) = 0 because the hanger does not move in the x direction.
Fhanger(y) = MHg T = MHAh
We did not discuss the tension in the string because the hanging mass and the glider are both
connected to the string, therefore the tension is the same on both masses.
4. Is the tension T in the string T>mg or T<mg? For smaller m, will T become smaller or
larger? For what mass m could T=mg? Based on that, do you think your graph should
pass through (i.e. include) the origin? (2 points)
The tension T in the string is T<mg because this will allow the glider to move down along the
track.
T will become smaller for a smaller m
M must be much > m for mg = T
Yes, the graph should pass through the origin. When the tension is = mg, the glider will not
move, therefore the acceleration will be = 0. The small mass is much smaller than M therefore
the mass ratio is equal to 0.
5. Suppose the string connecting M and m is cut during their motion. Describe the
subsequent acceleration and velocity of each mass? (1 point)
If the string connecting M and m is cut during their motion, the m (the hanging mass) would
have a bigger acceleration and velocity because the acceleration will not be limited the tension,
and will continue to fall due to gravity. The M (glider) would begin continue to move down the
track at a constant velocity until it hit an object and bounce back along the track because of
newtons 2nd law and the lack of friction.
6. In the case that the acceleration of the system is very small, we can naively estimate that
T=mg. Using your answer from 3a, calculate what T should actually be for one value of
the acceleration, and represent the difference between this actual tension and the
nave estimation as a % difference. Show all your work. (2 points).
Tnaive= m(g-a)

Tnaive= 47.83
% difference = 2.3%
7. During the experiment we assumed that the air track was frictionless, but of course
there was a small amount of friction between the glider and the track, which affected
the motion of the glider.
a. In what direction is the friction force pointing as the glider travels down the track
(away from the motion sensor). What about when the glider comes back up the track?
The gliders friction force points opposite the direction the glider is moving therefore the friction
force points left. When the glider is coming back up the track, the gliders friction force points
right.
b. If you were to only use the data from the first half of each bounce (when the glider is
traveling away from the sensor), would you expect your measured value of g to be
larger, smaller, or equal, to what you found during this lab. What if you only took the
data from the second half of each bounce? (2 points)
I would expect the measured value of g to be equal if we only used data from the first half of
each bounce and I would expect the value of g to be less if we took data from the second half of
each bounce.

Conclusion
Our calculated T = 47.83, and it is consistent with the true value within the 2.3% experimental
uncertainty. The 2.3% uncertainty was caused by small errors such as the small amount of
friction that moved occurred when the glider moved along the track. Our calculated value of g is
8.7739. The acceleration is dependent of m.