Embedded Files
When a fan on a cart is turned on, it puts a force on a mass of air. Obedient to Newton's Third law, the mass of air puts a force — directed in the opposite direction — onto the cart. The cart moves in the direction opposite to the direction of the force on the mass of air.
* Equipment seen in the video may vary from equipment used in ND Demonstrations. See information and images below for ND equipment and setup.
Setup:
Place the cart fan on the track. Turn on the cart fan and watch it move across the track.
Notes:
None
Courses Used In:
PHY 10111
PHY 10310
PHY 10410
PHY 30210
Discussion and Polling Questions:
If all the propeller is doing is spinning, why does the cart move forward?
Is the air moving backward in response?
Is the air or the propeller experiencing a larger force?
What if we kept the cart in place? If the air is still getting pushed, is the cart still experiencing an equal and opposite force?
What does that force do if the cart is not moving?
Equipment Needed:
Cart Fan
Track
Sail
Page updated
Report abuse