Predict the motion of a cart (without friction)

Here's a simple problem:

1. set up a track on your table so that one side sits 5.0 cm higher than other
2. let the cart roll 80 cm from rest

How long will it take the cart to roll that distance?

• Make a diagram of the situation.
• Draw a free-body diagram of the cart
• Make a table showing all the forces acting on the cart
• Determine the cart's acceleration down the track
• Compute the time it should take to roll the given distance, assuming there is no friction

Write down your work on a piece of paper. Hand the paper to an instructor.

Then, and only then, may you perform the experiment. Calculate the actual acceleration of the cart down the track.

How does the actual acceleration of the cart compare to the theoretical value?

Copyright © Michael Richmond. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.