PASCO SF-9214 Precision 2.0 Meter Air Track - Manual (Page 8)

scientific 4
012-02149B
Accessories
Flags
When using photogates to measure the velocity of the
glider, insert the 100 mm flags in the top surface of
each glider to interrupt the photogate beam.
The glider itself may also be used as a "flag". If a flag
of different length is required, simply cut a piece of
thin cardboard or aluminum to the desired length and
tape it to the top of the glider.
➦ NOTE: The following accessories mount to
the Air Track End Stop or the Glider via standard
4 mm plugs. Except for the Pulley, each acces-
sory weighs approximately 10 grams.
Always load a glider symmetrically, one acces-
sory on each end
Rubber Band Bumpers
These bumpers provide a soft collision, eliminating any
vibration of the glider as it collides with another glider
or an end stop.
Glider
The black anodized aluminum glider has a mass of
180 g
±
1 g and a length of 129 mm
±
1 mm.
To increase the mass of the glider simply place the
supplied masses on the steel pins protruding from each
side of the glider.
Additional Masses 50 g each
➦ NOTE: Masses must always be added sym-
metrically (the same number on each side), or the
glider will not function properly.
Glider accessories, such as the rubber band bumpers,
are mounted in one of the holes located at each end of
the glider.
➦ NOTE: In most cases the accessories should
be mounted in the lower hole, so as not to inter-
fere with any photogate operation.
These accessories will increase the mass of the glider
and must be taken into account in all calculations.
➧ IMPORTANT: If an accessory (such as the
bumper plate) is placed on one end of the glider,
then an accessory of equal mass (such as a
bumper or the bumper plate) should be
placed at the opposite end.
This way the glider
will remain
level on the
Air Track
and will not
tend to propel
itself in one
direction.