Sept 2016

Experiment 4U: Acceleration Down an Incline

Purpose
The purpose of this experiment is to study how the acceleration of a cart rolling down an inclined
track depends on the angle of the incline and to calculate the acceleration due to gravity g.

Apparatus
Track with end stop, picket fence, PAScar cart, 250 g mass bar, photogate head, pivot clamp,
photogate bracket, angle indicator, support stand with rod, Pasco 850 Universal Interface.

Theory
A cart of mass m will roll down an incline due to the pull of gravity. The force of gravity mg is
straight down, as shown in Figure 1. From trigonometry, we see that the component of the force
of gravity that is parallel to the inclined surface is mg sin θ where m is the mass of the cart and θ
is the angle of the incline. Neglecting friction, this is the force that accelerates the cart down the
incline. Since F = ma, the acceleration of the cart is the force mg divided by the mass, and
a = g sin θ.

We can find the acceleration due to gravity by measuring v, t, and θ. A graph of velocity versus
time produces a straight line and the slope of this graph is Δv/Δt = the acceleration. Since
a = g sin θ we have:

Slope = a = g sin θ (1)

In this experiment, our equipment will measure the velocity of a cart rolling down an incline
from rest. We use a picket fence graphic mounted on the cart which passes through a photogate’s
infrared beam. The design on the fence consists of evenly spaced bars. When a bar passes
through the gate, it interrupts the light and the time of passage is recorded by the computer. The
distance between bars has been preset. A program calculates the velocity at that point (Δx/Δt )
and then calculates the slope of a graph of velocity versus time which you know is the
acceleration.

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 Experiment 4U

Preliminary Setup
(See Appendix for more information about the PASCO equipment.)
1. The picket fence has five patterns on it (see figure below left). Set the picket fence into the
slots on the top of the cart with the 1 cm spaced row (13 bars) on top as shown. The plunger
should be sticking out and face downhill on the cart.

plunger

2. Attach the photogate to the mounting bracket. Slip the mounting bracket into a slot in the side
of the track at about the midpoint of the track. Place the cart with the picket fence on the track
and adjust the height of the photogate so that the 1 cm row of the picket fence is lined up with
the infrared beam of the photogate. You will see the light on the photogate blink as the 13 bars
pass through. Remove the cart from the track.
connect to digital input channel 1
connect to photogate head
photogate

infrared
beam
mounting bracket
connect to source
infrared beam source digital input
channel 1

3. Connect the 850 interface to the computer via Ethernet cable and turn it on.

4. Insert the photogate cable into the photogate. Then plug the photogate into digital input
channel 1 on the interface. You will see a green light on the 850 showing there is power to the
gate.

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 Experiment 4U

5. Set up the track with the end stop, angle indicator, pivot clamp, and support stand as shown in
Figure 2. Elevate the end of the track so that the angle indicator reads close to 10 degrees.

6. Set up the software by opening the “Exp4U Accel Down an Incline.cap” Capstone file on
your desktop.

Procedure Part I:
Note: Data recording is easier if one person handles the computer and another person handles the
cart.

Table 1 Cart Only

Acceleration a g
Angle θ (degrees) sin θ
(units?) (units?)

gaverage

1. Copy Table 1 onto your data sheet. Record the angle to 0.1°.

2. Hold the cart on the inclined track at a point about 10 cm above the photogate position.

3. Click "Record" (bottom left) to begin data recording. Release the cart from rest and stop the
cart after the picket fence moves completely through the photogate but BEFORE the cart hits
the endstop to prevent damage to the cart. Click “Stop” to end data recording. If you make a
mistake, click on "Delete Last Run" (bottom of the screen) and do it over.

4. On the graph shown, click the “Scale to Fit” icon (top left) and then click the black triangle by
the “Curve Fit” icon (the icon on the right) and select “Linear” (top right. The program will
display the equation of the line in the form y=mx+b. As discussed in the Theory section, the
slope of this straight line (m) is the acceleration. Record the slope value m from the “Linear” box
as the acceleration a for this angle in Table 1 with the correct units.

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 Experiment 4U

5. Lower the end of the track by one degree and repeat the data recording procedure. Use the
same release position.

6. Repeat the data recording procedure for a total of 5 angles, lowering the end of the track by
one degree for each new angle.

Procedure Part II:

7. Copy Table 1 onto your data sheet but rename it Table 2.

8. Add a 250 g mass bar to the cart and repeat procedures 2 through 6.

Before You Leave:

Exit the program.
DO NOT SAVE YOUR CHANGES.
Click “Discard” when the window pops up.

Lab Report
Part I
1) Complete Table 1 by using Equation (1) to calculate g. Don’t forget its units.
2) Calculate the percent discrepancy between your average measured value g and the accepted
value g = 9.81m/s2.
¿ accepted−experimental∨ ¿ ×100
accepted
discrepancy=¿

Part II
3) Complete Table 2.

4) Calculate the percent discrepancy between your average measured value g and the accepted
value g = 9.81m/s2.

Question #1: Does adding extra mass to the cart affect the calculation of g?

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