Smart Cart Demos
These 16 demonstrations are intended for the instructor's use with the Red/Blue Smart Cart Demo Kits (ME-1272/ME-1273).
Grade Level: College • High School
Subject: Physics
Student Collection Files
| SCD Introduction | 222.94 KB |
Activities
01) Demo: Differences between Velocity and Acceleration
This demonstration uses the Smart Cart Vector Display to show the direction of the acceleration and the velocity of the cart.
02) Demo: Independence of x- and y-Projectile Motion (Level Track)
Push the Smart Ballistic Cart on a level track and the ball is shot up and caught. Then put a tunnel (made from a plastic trash can) over the track. Have the ball launch just before the cart goes into the tunnel and the ball will be caught when the cart comes out of the tunnel. The tunnel makes it more apparent to students that the ball moves in a parabolic path.
03) Demo: Independence of x- and y-Projectile Motion (Uphill)
Push the Smart Ballistic Cart on a level track: The ball is shot and caught. Then push the cart on a level track but put a friction block in the cart's way: The ball is shot up and misses the cart because the cart has slowed down. Finally, push the cart up an inclined track: The ball is shot and will be caught by the cart, even if the ball is launched before the cart reaches the top and is caught as the cart is on its way back down the track.
04) Demo: Independence of x- and y-Projectile Motion (Downhill)
Push the Smart Ballistic Cart on a level track: The ball is shot and caught. Then attach a string to the cart and put a mass hanging over a pulley to pull the cart on a level track: The ball is shot up and misses the cart because the cart has accelerated ahead. Finally, put the cart at the top of an inclined track and let the cart go: The ball is shot normal to the track and will be caught because the ball is accelerating at the same rate as the cart.
05) Demo: Newton's First Law Using Vector Display
This demonstration uses a Smart Cart Vector Display to see the forces and accelerations.
06) Demo: Newton's First Law Using Smart Fan Carts
Two Smart Fan Carts attached by a string oppose each other with no net force, sitting still. Then two Fan Carts oppose each other with no net force but give them a pull and they travel at constant velocity. Finally, one Fan Cart is given twice the thrust as the other Fan Cart and the two carts accelerate in the direction of the cart with the greater force. However, the forces of the string on each cart are equal and opposite.
07) Demo: Newton's Second Law (Push-Pull Force Sensor)
According to Newton’s Second Law, force is proportional to acceleration. Push and pull on the cart’s force bumper with different amounts of mass in the cart. Plot Force vs. Acceleration and determine the slope of the line (equal to the cart’s mass)
08) Demo: Newton's Second Law (Hanging Mass)
Attach a string to the force sensor on the cart and put a mass hanging over a pulley to pull the cart on a level track. The force and acceleration are constant. Then add a mass bar to the cart to see the decrease in acceleration while the force on the system remains the same. Add more mass hanging over the pulley and see the increase in force and acceleration.
09) Demo: Newton's Second Law (Fan)
The Smart Fan Cart is set on one thrust setting and the mass of the car is varied, yielding different accelerations. Then the Smart Fan Cart is set on different thrust settings while keeping the cart mass the same, yielding different accelerations.
10) Demo: Newton's Third Law (Force Vectors)
Two Smart Carts with Vector Displays are placed at rest with their rubber bumpers against each other. The forces are equal and opposite on two carts that are being pushed at rest. Then the two carts are pushed back and forth: The forces are equal and opposite on two carts that are in motion. Finally, add a third cart between them and observe the effect on the forces.
11) Demo: Newton's Third Law (Fan Cart)
Demonstrate which way the Smart Fan Cart moves without the sail. Then demonstrate the Smart Fan Cart does not move when the fan blows into the sail. Finally, demonstrate the Smart Fan Cart does move when the fan air bounces off the curved sail.
12) Demo: Impulse and Force
While viewing the Force on Smart Cart Vector Display, the cart collides with the end stop with the magnetic bumper and then with an added paper bumper. Both collisions have about the same change in velocity and thus the impulses are the same. However, the paper bumper extends the time of the collision and thus reduces the maximum force.
13) Demo: Collisions
Collide two Smart Carts of equal mass: As viewed on the Vector Displays, the forces are equal and opposite and the accelerations are equal and opposite. Collide two carts of unequal mass: The forces are equal and opposite but the acceleration of the heavier cart is smaller than that of the lighter cart.
14) Demo: Centripetal Acceleration
Hold Smart Cart with Smart Vector Display in hand and spin around to show centripetal acceleration toward center of rotation.
15) Demo: Simple Harmonic Motion
A Smart Cart with Smart Vector Display is attached to a spring on an incline. Mark the equilibrium point. View and compare the velocity, acceleration, and force vectors as the cart oscillates.
16) Demo: Buoyant Force
Demonstrate two ways of determining the buoyant force on a submerged object: (1) Buoyant Force = Weight – Apparent Weight; (2) Buoyant Force = Weight of the Displaced Fluid
