Complete Experiments: Mechanics
Capstone 'EX' experiments include all the apparatus, sensors (when needed), manuals, and PASCO Capstone files you'll need in your student physics lab. For your convenience, we've listed all the downloadable files for each experiment below.
Grade Level: College
Subject: Physics
Activities
01) Projectile Motion - Wireless
This experiment is in four parts: 1. Muzzle Velocity, Time of Flight, and Range 2. Launching at Different Angles on a Plane 3. Predicting the Range of a Ball Launched at an Angle from a Height 4. Challenge Activity – Maximum Height of a Projectile on a Wall
02) Projectile Motion
The purpose of this experiment is to predict the horizontal range of a projectile shot from various heights and angles. In addition, students will compare the time of flight for projectiles shot horizontally at different muzzle velocities. This is really four stand-alone activities except that all require a measurement of initial speed when the launcher is fired horizontally.
03) Newton's First Law
The purpose of this experiment is to determine how external forces influence an object's motion. The following objects are pushed briefly: A cart and a friction block. An analysis of this motion yields Newton's First Law.
04) Newton's Second Law
The purpose of this experiment is to verify Newton’s Second Law for a one dimensional system. A measured force is applied to a low friction cart and the resulting acceleration is measured.
05) Newton's Third Law
The purpose of this experiment is to determine the relationship between forces forming an action-reaction pair.
06) Newton’s Second Law – Atwood’s Machine
The purpose of this activity is to study the relationship between net force, mass, and acceleration as stated by Newton’s 2nd Law, using an Atwood’s Machine apparatus, built with a PASCO Super Pulley. The Super Pulley has very low friction and small mass.
07) Sliding Friction
The purpose of this experiment is to find the coefficient of static friction and the coefficient of kinetic friction for different surfaces. As the Force Sensor pulls a Friction Tray from rest to a constant velocity, it can measure both the static friction and the kinetic friction. A plot of each of these forces versus their respective normal forces yields both coefficients. We also examine the dependence of friction on the surface area of contact and the effect of speed on the kinetic friction.
08) Ballistic Pendulum
A ballistic pendulum is used to determine the muzzle velocity of a ball shot out of a Projectile Launcher. The laws of conservation of momentum and conservation of energy are used to derive the equation for the muzzle velocity.
10) Centripetal Force on a Pendulum
The purpose of this activity is to experimentally measure the centripetal force acting on a pendulum as a function of angular position. The experimentally measured value will be compared to the value predicted by measurements of mass, speed and radius. The student discovers that a simple treatment ignoring the vector nature of the forces does not match the measured results.
11) Hooke's Law and Spring Potential Energy
The purpose of the first portion of this experiment is to find the spring constant for two springs under tension and to verify that the energy stored in a spring is in agreement with what Hooke’s Law predicts. The force applied to the spring is measured using a Force Sensor. The subsequent extension or compression is measured with a Motion Sensor. An analysis of the data produces the spring constant.
12) Impulse
A cart with a spring bumper runs down a track and collides with the endstop. The cart experiences a variable force during the time of the collision, causing it to change its velocity. In this experiment, the relationship between momentum, force, and impulse will be explored for the spring bumper, a clay bumper, and a magnetic bumper.
13) Conservation of Momentum
Elastic and inelastic collisions are performed with two dynamics carts of different masses. Magnetic bumpers are used in the elastic collision and Velcro® bumpers are used in the completely inelastic collision. In both cases, momentum is conserved.
14) Ballistic Pendulum - Wireless
A ballistic pendulum is used to determine the muzzle velocity of a ball shot out of a Projectile Launcher. The laws of conservation of momentum and conservation of energy are used to derive the equation for the muzzle velocity.
15) Work Energy Theorem
The purpose of this activity is to compare the total work done on an object to the change in kinetic energy of the object. The force sensor is used to measure the variable force applied to a cart by a spring. The Motion Sensor is used to measure the velocity of the cart as it is pulled by the spring. Capstone records and displays the force as a function of position and uses the velocity measurement to calculate the kinetic energy of the cart as a function of position.
16) Conservation of Energy II
The student observes a falling object and compares its kinetic and gravitational potential and total energies as it falls. The student also demonstrates that mechanical energy is approximately conserved unless the object’s density is low, and examines the effect of drag on low density objects.
17) Conservation of Energy II - Wireless
A ball is dropped from rest and its height and speed are recorded using a Wireless Motion Sensor. The ball’s potential energy and kinetic energy are calculated at various points during the ball’s fall. The total energy of the ball is examined throughout the fall to determine if there is any change. Balls of different sizes are used to vary the amount of air friction, so that students can see that energy is not conserved when friction is appreciable.
18) Conservation of Energy on a Rollercoaster
In this experiment, the Law of Conservation of Energy is verified by measuring the potential and kinetic energies of a car traveling over hills and loops on a curved track.
