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Light gate 2
glider
+ flag
string/tape
Air Track
mass
Figure 1: A glider pulled along an air track by the action of a descending mass.
If the glider has an initial velocity,
given by equation [1]:
[1]
where
mass.
a is the constant acceleration of the glider due to the action of the falling
1.1
Sketch the velocity-time graph for the motion of the glider from a point just
after it has been released until it has passed through both light gates.
By considering the area under the graph you have just drawn, show that the
distance travelled by the glider, s , can be expressed as follows:
1.2
s ut
1.3
1 2
at
2
[2]
If the glider is released from rest, how long will it take to travel 1 m when it
experiences a constant acceleration of 0.5 ms -2 ?
Using the speeds at the 1st and 2nd light gates, and the time between each
passing, calculate the acceleration of the glider. Explain how you deduced the
time it took for the glider to travel between the two light gates and comment
on your reasoning.
2.2
Using the speeds and the acceleration, deduce the separation of the light gates
in your spreadsheet. How well does this compare with the true separation?
Comment on any differences.
Part 4: Calculating the mass of a glider from the dynamics of the system (10
mins)
The force accelerating the glider of mass M is the tension in the thread, T , due to
the mass suspended from the other end, m .
Strong thread
Tension, T
Glider &
flag
T
mg
Figure 2: A constant force can be applied to a glider by using
recording tape, an air pulley and a small hanging weight.
4.1
Using Newton's 2nd law, and assuming that the tape cannot stretch, derive an
expression for the glider in terms of a , g and m .
4.2
Now weigh the glider and discuss how well your estimate agrees with this.
Using both the actual mass of the glider and that calculated in part 4, calculate
a value for g . How well does this agree with the accepted value of
9.81 ms -2 . Discuss the possible sources of error which result in any
mismatch between calculation and reality.
Further work
The following questions are related to the topic covered by this experimental tutorial:
Example books:
D1 D5.
Mastering Physics:
Dynamics 1: Motion in Two or Three Dimensions - Graph of v(t) for a Sports
Car
Dynamics 2: Newton's Laws and Examples - Applying Newton's 2nd Law
u
t
1.2
v
t
(since )
1.3
1 2
at .
2
0.5t 2
1
0.25t 2 t 2
4 t 2 ms -1
2
0.25
2.1
see spreadsheet. There are 4 different ways of choosing on the time between
passing each light gate; t3-t1 (the 3rd reading the 1st reading), t3-t2, t4-t2, or the
average of the times; ((t3+t4)/2)-((t1+t2)/2). All of these are stated in the
spreadsheet.
2.2
The separation calculated should be very similar to the true separation i.e.
within 10% of the true separation.
3.1
see spreadsheet
4.1
g
mg T ma M 1 m
a
4.2
see spreadsheet
Section
1.1
2.1
2.2
3.1
4.1
4.2
Discretionary mark
TOTAL
Equipment List:
Air Track
2 x Stands with boss heads
2 x Light gates
Computer with EasySense software
Mass hanger with small masses
String or Recoding tape
Glider with flag
Mark
2
2
1
1
1
1
2
10
Time
Initial (s)
Final (s)
Passing
(s)
LG 1
LG2
(s)
Lengt
h of
card
(m)
0.04
Calculation
of time
between
gates
Time
between
gates
(s)
Gravity,
g,
(m/s2)
Initial
Velocity
(m/s)
Final
Velocity
(m/s)
Accelerat
ion
(m/s2)
Hanging
Mass
(kg)
Glider
Mass
(kg)
Actual
Glider
Mass
(kg)
Differen
ce
Seperatio
n (m) [s =
v2-u2/2a]
Seperatio
n (m) [s =
ut + 1/2
at2]
t3-t2
0.8555
9.81
0.41973
0.7067
0.33547
0.00644
0.1819
0.16227
0.01961
0.506198
858
0.481823
855
0.9508
0.0953
1.0074
t4-t2
0.9121
0.31465
0.1943
0.03207
0.539254
057
0.513702
135
0.0953
0.0566
((t3+t4)/2)((t1+t2)/2)
0.9314
0.30811
0.1986
0.03633
0.550181
269
0.524600
451
t3-t1
0.9508
0.30184
0.2029
0.04059
0.561108
481
0.535498
767
Actual
Seperati
on (m)
0.5