PASCO ME-8574 DISCOVER FRICTION ACCESSORY - Manual (Page 3)

012-07552A Discover Friction Accessory
3
Work Done by Frictional Forces
Using a Cart Launcher (ME-9488) or the cart
plunger, Dynamics Carts or PAScars can be
launched toward a motion sensor to determine the
motion of the cart under the influence of friction.
After determining the launch velocity of the cart
without the friction tray, the tray can be attached to
the cart and launched again. As the tray causes
considerable sliding friction, students will observe
constantly accelerated motion. By measuring the
distance over which the friction tray slides,
students can determine the coefficient of friction
between the tray and Dynamics Track or other
surface. The following equation can be used to
solve for the coefficient of friction:
Kinetic Energy = Force x Distance
1 / 2 mv 2 =
µ
k
F
N
x
Figure 2: Stacking Discover Friction Accessory for varying heights