Question

EXPERIMENT LINEAR AIR TRACK

1)In the experiment to investigate Newton's second law of motion by using linear air track,explain the function of each apparatus used,which are air track rail,blower,pressure tubr,gliders,flag,photogate,string and pulley.

2)Why do we need to measure the length of the flag to get the accelerationnand why do we use the formula a=2X/t2?.

3)Is there any friction force involves and suggest the ways to improve this experiment

Answer 1

1.The experiment needs an air track,an air blower,timer with photo gates ,gliders to move on the track,flags on it to be blocked by photo gate. There will be small holes on the track to remove air by the air blower. The gliders move freely on track in left and right direction. Air blower can be be switched on and place the gliders on track. there are strings and pullies at both end of the track and with suspension from the gliders move in the track. to calculate speed and time we use the timer with photo gates. We have to set the distance in the timer and put timer in time mode. once glider passes through gate one the timer calculates the time and stops when the timer passes through gate 2. calculation of speed and acceleration will be automatically done by timer.

2.length of flag is equal to the length of the beam sense by the photo gate. This gives the effective length in the calculation of velocity. velocity is given by effective length divided by time of flag

3.friction involved and ways to improve the experiment

Friction between air track and glider

Friction between string and pulley

tension force by string

ways to improve

Air track needs to be adjusted periodically but avoid excessive touching,precise straightness to be maintained by reference line if its a long track make it a two person procedure,select a track which is even with less bulges,