Demonstrations

Uniform Acceleration - Liquid Accelerometer

& Dynamics Cart

Code Number :	1G20.70
Disclaimer:	Reprinted by permission of Dick Berg, University of Maryland, for use on this website. The demonstrations contained and referenced herein are listed for the purposes of cataloging and describing physics demonstrations which should be conducted only under the direction of a trained instructional support professional or physicist. These demonstrations are not presented for the purpose of being conducted by persons unconnected to this Facility and/or persons not consulting with or being supervised by the recognized instructional support professional or physicist and his/her staff. The University is responsible only for those demonstrations carried out using its own equipment using established safety and scheduling policies, and bears no responsibility for those choosing to use this source material for their own purposes. All demonstrations described and contained herein are public domain, and can also be found in reference materials in libraries, bookstores, and electronic sources. Further information regarding legal liability in use of demonstrations and labs will be found on the web site Injuries in School/College Laboratories in USA. The University of Iowa Disclaimers: U of Iowa Disclaimer All Rights Reserved..
Condition :	Good
Principle :	Gravitational Acceleration - Uniform Acceleration
Area of Study :	Mechanics
Equipment :	Pasco Dynamics Cart and Track, Liquid Accelerometer, Acceleration Pulley System.
Procedure :	For visible changes in the accelerometer a 200 g weight should be used. HOWEVER: This results in an acceleration sufficient to throw the cart off the track if not caught. Place one or two 4''x 4'' blocks under one end of the track. Allow the cart with accelerometer to move down the track and notice that the liquid level in the accelerometer is parallel to the track . The accelerometer in picture three is made for use on the overhead projector. Fill the cavity with water leaving a small air bubble. As you spin this in the overhead, the bubble will go towards the center of rotation and not away from it.

References

Robert Ehrlich, "Accelerometers for Use on an Overhead Projector," TPT, Vol. 34, # 4, p. 240- 241, (April 1996).

Virginia Langland, "Acceleration 2¢ Each", TPT, Vol. 32, # 5, May 1994, p. 309.

Carl Duzen, Jane Nelson, and Jim Nelson, "Classifying Motion", TPT, Vol. 30, # 7, Oct. 1992, p. 414.

Earl Coombs, "Demonstrating the Difference Between Velocity and Acceleration", TPT, Vol. 28, # 8, Nov. 1990, p. 546.

D. Easton, "Fletcher's Trolley - Alive and Well", TPT, Vol. 21, # 3, Mar. 1983, p. 184.

Peter W. Hewson, Sabine Jaunich, and Malcolm H. Moreton, "An Accurate Accelerometer", TPT, Vol. 17, # 1, Jan. 1979, p. 45.

M. L. Allan, "Keep the Mass Constant," TPT, Vol. 17, # 6, Sept. 1979, p. 406.

John B. Johnton, "Acceleration a Pendulum", TPT, Vol. 16, # 6, Sept. 1978, p. 404.

Lawrence E. L'Hote, "Large Scale Use of a Liquid-Surface Accelerometer", TPT, Vol. 13, # 2, Feb. 1975, p. 100.

J. Harris and A. Ahlgren, "Some Simple Experiments and Demonstrations", TPT, Vol. 4, # 7, Oct. 1966, p. 314.

The Project Physics Course - Teachers Resource Book, "Concepts in Motion: D4: Uniform Acceleration Using Liquid Accelerometer," p. 56.

The Project Physics Course - Teachers Resource Book, "Concepts in Motion: D8: Direction of Acceleration and Velocity & D9: Direction of Velocity and Acceleration - An Air Track Demonstration," p. 58.

The Project Physics Course - Teachers Resource Book, "Concepts in Motion: Quantitative Work With Liquid Surface Accelerometer," p. 111.

Mail Questions and Comments to: Dale Stille