Mb-3 Newton's Cart
Aim
To demonstrate that force can be resolved into its individual components.
Apparatus
- PASCO TM Newton's Cart
- Stopwatch and Ruler
- Extra Masses
Description
Newton's Cart has a propeller attached to it, which can be rotated through 180 degrees. At 0° the propeller will produce the maximum acceleration, while the propeller set at 90° will produce zero net acceleration in the forward direction. The acceleration can be measured with a stopwatch and can be used to confirm component calculations. Also masses may be placed on the cart to vary the acceleration so as to demonstrate Newton's Second Law.