Air Track

Concept Overview:

1. Collisions in 1 Dimension
2. Elastic and Inelastic Collisions
3. Frictionless Motion
4. Turning Point
5. Conservation of Linear Momentum
6. Action-Reaction Forces
7. Conservation of Energy
8. Uniformly Accelerated Linear Motion

Lecturer Procedure - Turning Point

Step(s) to Follow

1. Throw rubber ball in air.
2. Catch rubber ball.
3. Turn on air track.
4. Push glider toward one end of track.

Expected Result

Rubber ball will abruptly change direction and move with the same speed in opposite direction - the glider will show the same change of motion at the turning point.

Use small air track for this (see below for specific equipment notes)

Lecturer Procedure - Collision Phenomena

Step(s) to Follow

Push one glider toward a stationary glider to show the difference between elastic vs. inelastic collisions

Expected Result

2 gliders with velcro will collide and stick.

2 gliders with bumpers will collide and bounce off of each other

Use any air track for this (see below for specific equipment notes)

Lecturer Procedure - Combined Masses that Move Apart

Step(s) to Follow

1. Place a fire cracker in the end of the appropriate glider and connect to matching glider.
2. Check that fuse is protruding from hole in glider end.
3. With air track turned on, light fuse.

Expected Result

Fire cracker will explode. The force of the explosion will cause the carts to move apart at the same rate (since they have the same mass)

Use large air track (see below for specific equipment notes)

Lecturer Procedure - Uniform Acceleration

Step(s) to Follow

1. Angle large air track slightly.
2. With air track on, release glider from one end of air track.
3. Mark location of glider with tape at equal time intervals.
4. Measure distances traveled.
5. Complete calculations to show a uniformed acceleration

Expected Result

Visual demonstration of uniform acceleration

This is a variation of M: K - 7

Use large air track (see below for equipment notes)

Equipment Notes:

Large Air Track (pictured below) - Poor condition; results are not great - refurbishment project is in progress, but outlook is not good

Small Air Track (pictured below) - Very useful, overall in good condition; most popular - selected most frequently of air tracks

Air Track Mini (pictured below) - Smaller than a bench top; too small for most collision-related demonstrations, but always available for use if desired.