Ballistic Cart Acceleration

This demonstration shows projectile motion with an accelerating cart. A ball is launched from the cart pulled by a mass hanging over a pulley at the end of the track. The ball travels up in the air but does not land in the cart.

* Equipment seen in the picture may vary from equipment used in ND Demonstrations. See information and images below for ND equipment and setup.

Setup:

Place the cart track on the lab table and attach a pulley to the end. Attach the launcher part way down the track. Tie a string to one end of the cart and to a mass hanger with the desired mass.

Place the cart on the track with the ball in the cradle and the correct side facing the launcher. Make sure the launcher is aligned with the cart. Hang the mass over pulley.

Push the ball down in the launcher to load the spring.

Release the cart down the track. As the cart passes the launcher, it will launch the ball into the air. Because the cart is accelerating, it will not catch the ball.

Notes:

It is recommended to do this demo in addition to the original ballistic cart demo as it provides more context.

Courses Used In:

• PHYS 10111

• PHYS 10310

• PHYS 10410

• PHYS 30210

Discussion and Polling Questions:

• (before demo) Will the cart catch the projectile? If not, will the projectile fall ahead of or behind the cart?

• Why did this configuration not work when the original ballistic cart did?

• What does the motion look like in the cart's reference frame?

  • • Bonus: What does the motion look like in the ball's reference frame?

Equipment Needed:

• Cart Track

• Ballistic Cart with Launcher

• Ball

• Pulley

• String

• Mass Hanger

• Masses