measure the distance between the twolight gates using a ruler
Set it up so the trolley holds a piece of card which will interrupt the signal at the light gates.
connect the trolley to a piece of string that goes over a pulley and is connected to the other side to a hook of known mass
add mass to the hook
the weight of the hook (W = m x g) provides the accelerating force
let the hook and masses hang taut over the table release the trolly.
measure time to pass 2 points using light gates
calculate velocity (velocity =distance/time)
calculate acceleration(change in velocity/time) then change mass or force
repeat
What are the results of investigating motion?
Newtons 2nd law - by adding mass to the trolley, the mass of the whole system increases but the force stays the same so the acceleration should decrease (Acceleration is inversely proportional to mass)
by passing masses to the hook, you are increasing the force without changing the mass of the whole system, so increasing the force should lead to an increase in acceleration (force is direcalypso proportional to acceleration)
