Mechanics: Plunger Cart with Variable Mass

PIRA Class: non-PIRA

Purpose:
To demonstrate conservation of energy or the work-kinetic energy theorem.

Description:
The plunger can be compressed against a stationary object and released to launch the cart. Launch the cart multiple times with different masses. The same amount of work (or same decrease in elastic potential energy) results in different speeds depending on cart's mass.

The cart and the duct taped mass have a combined mass of 3172 grams. Adding three additional 1000 g masses will approximately double the mass which should decrease the resulting speed by a factor of sqrt(2).

Equipment:
Three wheeled cart, additional masses

Location:
Shelf 123 (three wheeled cart), shelf 151 (additional masses)