Unbalanced Forces Model

Cart on a Ramp

Set up your cart to collected both Force and X-Axis Acceleration

Choose two different ramps to experiment with. You will use the same cart for both ramps.

Draw a free-body diagram of the forces acting on the cart while being held at rest by the string.

Measure the angle of your ramp

Using a sensor on your phone, measure the angle in degrees (˚) of the ramp. Record this angle in your data table.

Zero Your Sensors:

Zero the sensor in the orientation you will be collecting data. (Repeat for each ramp)

Determine the mass of your cart configuration:

Collect Tension Data:

By gently moving your cart, using the force reading in Graphical Analysis determine the tension [N] in the string while the cart is at rest. Record this value in your data table

Collect Acceleration of Cart:

Remove the cart from the string.
Press collect on the Graphical Analysis.
Let the cart roll down the ramp.
Repeat three times to achieve an average acceleration.
Using the AVERAGE function, determine the acceleration of the cart for each configuration.

Draw a free-body diagram of the forces acting as the cart is rolling down the ramp.

Repeat with additional masses on the same ramp.

Make copy of the DATA TABLE HERE

How does the addition of mass effect the motion of the cart?

Graphical Analysis Setup:

Connect your cart to Graphical Analysis.
Turn on Sensor Channels:
1. Position
2. Force
3. x-axis acceleration
Set the number of graphs to 1.
Set the axis of the graph to:
1. x-axis: Force (N)
2. y-axis: x-axis acceleration (m/s/s)
Press collect and move the cart as shown to the right.
Add a mass and repeat until you have 5 different masses recorded.
Record the mass of trial. (cart plus metal bar)

Data Analysis Preparation:

Display ALL five different scenarios on the same graph.
Select a small portion in the middle of the data.
Using the Apply Curve Fit option, add a LINEAR curve fit to the five lines on your graph.
Record the values of the SLOPE of each line in a table as shown (directly into a spread sheet).

Data Analysis:

Determine the units of Acceleration v. Force graph displayed in Graphical Analysis.
Create a graph of Slope v. Mass of cart.
Linearize your graph if necessary.
Deduce the relationship between the acceleration, force and mass of the cart, based on your data.

One of the prescribed lab practicals by the AP is experimenting with N2L. We will be analyzing data from a simulation to fulfill this requirement.

Using the Simulation below, the data below was collected.

The initial settings were:

Two experiments were performed:

Experiment 1: System with Constant Mass:
1. During this data collection, the total mass of the system remained constant.
2. To collect data, mass was transferred from the sliding mass (m_2) to the hanging mass (m_1). As m_2 decreased in size, m_1 increased.
Experiment 2: System with Constant Force:
1. During this data collection, the hanging mass (m_1) was held constant.
2. The sliding mass (m_2) increased from 1 kg to 10kg.
Data Analysis: Please complete the following and submit to GC:
1. Create a copy of the data using this LINK. Copy and paste your graphs into your document and they will automatically update. PLEASE do not insert screenshots of your graphs.
2. For each of the graphs:
  1. Linearize the data if needed. Additional help can be found HERE - Reading and Linearizing Graphs.
  2. From the slope/gradient:
    1. Determine the units of the slope/gradient of the linear graph.
    2. Discuss the importance of these units.
    3. Determine and comment on the value of the slope/gradient of the linear graph.
3. Deduce the relationship between force, acceleration, and mass from the data collected.
4. Describe the benefits and limitations of using a simulation versus completing a lab practical in the classroom.

N2L Class Data

The following data was capture using the lowest setting on the fan (F) and a mass of 1 Cart (1M). Data File HERE.

On a sketch of the axis below, describe the following:

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