Northwestern Physics Demos                                 Go back to Mechanics
DCS# 1K20.90NWU# M-10Location  opposite 4 C, gliders 3A1, Air blower under cat walk
title: Air Track - Frame of Reference
aka: no friction,  reaction gliders, impulse in collisions 

Description:
The low friction of the air track makes it usefull for the following demonstrations:
   Inertia with low friction.
   Two objects pushing on one another. (use a string to hold a compressed spring, burn the string, see the result)
    Elastic and inelastic collisions.
  A wireless camera can be mounted on one cart to show the frame of reference effects during an elastic collision.


Questions:
   During elastic collisions, how does the more massive cart behave?
    When different mass carts collide, which undergoes the greater acceleration?
pix of plastic rocket in tray