In physics we're doing an experiment on velocity (if you google 'experiment 36-velocity' and pick the 2nd result it will tell you. I know that decreasing the wind resistance caused by a card (needed to measure the velocity with a motion sensor), but can the mass of the car affect it's velocity? Please help!
2007-11-07 23:25:51 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
sorry about the spelling and grammar, I wasnt able to fit the whole question in without using less spaces.
2007-11-07 23:32:08 · update #1
i didn't think so, but i wasn't sure. Thanks. What other things could affect it though?
2007-11-08 00:13:10 · update #2
1. Adding mass or shaving the wheels will speed up the car because additional energy is required to accelerate the wheels' rotation. The effectiveness of this depends on how large the wheels' mass is compared to total car mass.
2. Of course do whatever you can to minimize friction and air resistance.
Then there are methods of questionable legality.
3. Install a spring-loaded mass shooter in the car and trigger it upon release. Have it shoot a mass backwards. If the mass is allowed to escape the car you get a velocity boost. If it must remain in the car you get a position-shift boost.
4. Move the whole experiment to an elevator and release the car just when the elevator accelerates upwards. This effectively increases g.
5. Shorten the ramp.
6. Glue a coil spring to the back of the car. Start the car with the spring compressed against the backstop.
OK, the rules say it may only be powered by gravity, and the teacher sets up the ramp. That eliminates 3, 5 and 6, but maybe you could argue for 4? Increasing "effective" gravity?
2007-11-08 03:00:14 · answer #1 · answered by kirchwey 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
describe 2 ways car model ramp fasterwithout changig ramp releas position
2016-02-03 04:41:41 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It seems that you need to reduce friction, or at least its effect on velocity. My first thought was increase weight, not because it will fall faster but because its terminal velocity would be higher. Not positive about that though, you should do a quick calc to see if it works.
A second thought was to increase the radius of the wheels, reducing friction at the axles. A third thought is reduce the width of the wheels (less surface area of contact).
2007-11-08 00:43:49 · answer #3 · answered by busterwasmycat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
what about changing the coefficient of friction (drag) on the car itself by making it cut through the air more smoothly?
Can something be modified on the surface of the car?
what about changing the coefficient of friction (drag) on the car itself by making it run smoother on the track?
Can something be modified with where the track meets the car?
2007-11-08 00:40:13 · answer #4 · answered by einsteinium2007 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Changing the mass wont affect the velocity. The acceleration remains the same.
2007-11-07 23:34:47 · answer #5 · answered by Dan A 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can reduce friction of the car wheel axle by greasing (or oiling) this axle.
2007-11-08 01:11:16 · answer #6 · answered by mashkas 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋