PURPOSE: To experimentally determine the acceleration of gravity.

DESCRIPTION: One end of the air track is elevated at an angle a so that the dynamics cart will accelerate down the slope with some component of the acceleration of gravity. This component is determined experimentally by measuring the velocity v of the cart after it has accelerated a fixed distance S down the track. The angle a is determined from the amount the track is raised and the distance between the two support feet. The acceleration of gravity is then:

g =v**2 /2 S sin a.

SUGGESTIONS: Set timer gate above lower track feet so you have space to catch the glider before it hits the end.

REFERENCES:

EQUIPMENT: Dynamics track with cart and photocell gate timer.

SETUP TIME: 5 min.

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