Principle
In this experiment, pupils should investigate and become
familiar with the conversion of potential energy into kinetic
energy. Here, an experimental car will be accelerated by a weight
in the earth's gravitational field. The accelerating force is
deactivated automatically after a given distance (or height) as the
mass touches the ground. The car continues to move with the speed
last reached. This can be determined using the photoelectric gates
and the timer.
From the given height the pupils should calculate the potential
energy and plot it against v2. The slope k
(with the dimension of a mass) should be compared with the total
mass m. This yields m = 2 k. The formula
Ekin = 1/2 m v2, which will be
derived elsewhere, should be made plausible this way.
Benefits
- Especially accurate and reproducible results due to the use of
light barriers and the Timer 2-1
- Timer 2-1 can be used for versatile applications, for example
for teacher experiments due to ist great display
- Very modern student experiments which fully cover the
curriculum subject "Motion"