MCA1PRA EXPERIMENT PORTFOLIO

“LINEAR AIR TRACK

(LEVELLING OF THE AIR TRACK & DETERMINATION OF
COEFFICIENT OF RESTITUTION)”

Date: 19/06/2019
Author: Tshabalala Zakhele Innocent
Student No: 64208311
Email: 64208311@mylife.unisa.ac.za

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Contents
INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................................3
AIM OF EXPERIMENT.............................................................................................................................4
APPARATUS...........................................................................................................................................5
THEORY..................................................................................................................................................6
PROCEDURES.........................................................................................................................................8
DISCUSSIONS.......................................................................................................................................10
LINEAR AIR TRACK PART A (Determination of the flatness of the air track)..............................11
Part B (Determination of coefficient of restitution (e)).......................................................................15
CONCLUSION.......................................................................................................................................17

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 INTRODUCTION
An air track is a scientific device used to study motion in low friction environment.
When the track is level and the rider is given a slight push, it will move
with constant velocity; when the track is slightly inclined, the rider will
experience a small acceleration due to the component of gravity which is
parallel to the track. The first part of this experiment is the analysis of the flatness
of the air track and the second part is the determination of the coefficient of
restitution.

FLATNESS OF THE AIR TRACK

To study constant-velocity motion, it is necessary to level the air track as

much as possible. You will find that when you first put the rider on the
track, it will tend to drift in one direction or another. What you want to do
is level the track such that when you place the rider at any position along
its length, the rider stays more or less stationary. To level the air track, use the two
adjustable feet under the left side. The right foot is not adjustable, b u t y o u c a n
raise or lower it using sheets of paper. It may not be possible to
completely level the track, but try as best as you can to eliminate
i r r e g u l a r i t i e s i n t h e m o t i o n o f t h e rider. It is essential for the whole
experiment to level the air-track carefully before performing your measurements. The
flatness of the air track can be analysed by measuring the velocity of the glider as a
function of the distance from the starting point. Levelling the air track along its length
is much more critical. Switch on the air blower, and place a cart on the track. Use the
levelling screws to reduce the movement of the cart. If the track is level, the cart
should stay in place over an extended period. When an air track is connected with
an air blower, compressed air is sprayed from the holes on the surface and forms a
thin air layer. This air layer will fill the space between the air track and the inner
surface of a glider. As a result, the movement of the glider can be regarded as
friction-free movement. With the help of an air blower and a digital timer, the air
track can be used to experimentally study important physics concepts such as
velocity, acceleration, momentum, collision, and kinetic.

COEFFICIENT OF RESTITUTION

When two objects collide and bounce away from each other, they tend to
lose some of their energy in the collision, and the rebound velocity
between them is therefore less than the initial velocity between them. This is why
objects that are dropped will sooner or later stop bouncing. The elasticity of the
collision can be indicated by (e), t h e coefficient of restitution, which is
defined as the speed after the collision divided by the speed before the
collision. In this experiment, we are hoping to characterize the motion of a cart
under uniform acceleration by taking measurements of the effective distance due to
gravity on an inclined plane. With these measurements, we derived an experimental
value of (e) It normally ranges from 0 to 1 where 1 would be a perfectly elastic
collision. An air track is ideal for studying the coefficient of restitution, since friction is
negligible and because of slight errors in cutting the card for flags and the sensitivity
of the Photo Gate, it is important to check the exact distance travelled by the glider
between the switching on and off of the photogate.

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 AIM OF EXPERIMENT

 Determination of coefficient of restitution on the inclined air track.

 To study the motion of an object undergoing uniform acceleration
using a “frictionless” air track and a computer
 To test the law of conservation of linear momentum by the collision between
two riders on a linear air track.
 Determination of the flatness of the air track.

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 APPARATUS
 The linear air track.
 Gliders.
 Photogate timers.
 Computer (Pasco capstone software).
 Flags.
 Rubber bumpers.
 Air blower.

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 THEORY
FLATNESS OF THE AIR TRACK

The very low friction of glider on air track means that in most experiments the glider
can be considered part of a conservation system, that is energy considerations can
be used reliably to characterise the system. Suppose the track is horizontal and
almost, but not quite flat as shown exaggeratedly in the below figure:

Exaggerated shape of the track

The glider leaves the one end with an initial velocity ( v1 ). The energy equation of the
glider is:

OR

Where v❑ is the velocity at a point with height (h) relative to that of the launching
position. Since a small change in the glider height (h) has a one-to-one
correspondence with an equivalent change in the value of v 2, the flatness of the air
track can be analysed by measuring the velocity v1 of the glider as a function of the
distance (x) from the starting point. Each end of the air track is equipped with a U-
shaped metal bracket V for launching gliders. The rubber band is placed between a
pair of slots on the bracket arms. Stretch the rubber band until the two spring
bumpers are slightly in contact. If the glider is released, it is projected along the track
with an initial velocity v1 . By using this launching mechanism and two photogate
timers, the initial velocity and final velocity of the glider can be determined at a
number of positions along the track. The initial velocity is determined by using a
photogate positioned close to the initial position of the glider.

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COEFFICIENT OF RESTITUTION

A useful number that can be used to characterise a rebound or collision is the

coefficient of restitution(e ). This number is defined as the ratio of the magnitude of
the relative velocity before the collision. If the relative velocity has the same
magnitude before and after the collision, the collision is perfectly elastic and e=1. If
the relative velocity has a smaller magnitude than before, the collision, that is semi-
elastic and ¿ e <¿ 1. If the relative velocity is zero after the collision, that is if the two
bodies stick together, it is completely inelastic and e = 0. In this casse the two bodies
move as a unit after the collision. An air track is ideal for studying the coefficients of
restitution, since friction is negligible. Suppose a glider starts from rest a distance (x)
from the lower end of an air track tilted at an angle.

According to the law of conservation of energy

Where v is the velocity of the glider at the lower end of the track. If the velocity
immediately after the collision is v in the opposite direction, energy conservation
yields.

The coefficient of restitution is therefore given by:

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 PROCEDURES

FLATNESS OF THE AIR TRACK

 The initial and final velocity of the glider was determined five times for a
specific value of (x=30, 60, 90, 120)
 The measurements were repeated for 50cm intervals of (x). Both photo gates
were moved down the track, with a constant 50cm interval between them.
 The graph of v 2 as a function of was plotted.
 The standard errors in the value of v 2 was calculated to be 0.011
 Using conservation of energy to calculate the value of height (h) as a function
of x and the graph of h as a function of x was plotted.

COEFFICIENT OF RESTITUTION

 The air track was tilt with a wood block under the levelling screw to be
inclined.
 The values of x 2 were determined five times for each of seven different values
of x 1.
 The straight line graph was drawn using a linear regression analysis and the
value coefficient of restitution was = 0.537
 The value of the se was calculated to be = 0.046

PASCO CAPSTONE SOFTWARE SETUP PROCEDURE

1. Double click on the PASCO SOFTWARE.

2. Click on the hardware setup, in order to set the four photogates (select one photogate
single flag) for each photogate.
3. After measuring the effective distance (Leff), click on each photogate, go to properties and
set Leff measurement you obtained under the ‘Flag Width’ in metres (m). [For each
photogate].
4. Having done all the three steps above, click again to hardware setup (hardware setup tab
temporarily disappears).
5. Select ‘Two Large Digits’ you will see two blocks/boxes on the computer. Click each one
of them and reduce the size to make space for other six boxes. On the right hand side, look
for a small box written ‘1, 2, 3 Digits’ under
Displays, click and drag to the left six times or just double click on ‘1,2,3 Digits’ six times.
6. On each box, click on select measurement to set the time and velocity corresponding to
each photogate as follows:

The first setting will be ch (Channel A:1:1) for speed (m/s) and time (s) of the first two
boxes
The second setting will be ch (Channel A:1:2) for speed (m/s) and time (s) of the second two
boxes
The third setting will be ch (Channel B:1:1) for speed (m/s) and time (s) of the third two
boxes

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The fourth setting will be ch (Channel B:1:2) for speed (m/s) and time (s) of the last two
boxes (now you are happy that all your eight boxes are set for all the four photogates).

7. However, you do not know which photogate is the first, second, third or fourth. To
determine that, pass your two fingers below the first photogate placed at 30 cm (as it sense
anything passing below it) and a red light on the photogate will be seen together with a
reading of two random blocks on the screen of your computer for speed and time. Click on
each and rename them according to the first photogate until the last one.
8. Repeat step 7 above for the photogates placed at 60, 90 and 120 cm.
9. Adjusting the air blower to be consistent in all the groups.

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 DISCUSSIONS

FLATNESS OF THE AIR TRACK

To study constant-velocity motion, it is necessary to level the air track as

much as possible. You will find that when you first put the rider on the
track, it will tend to drift in one direct ion or another. What you want to do
is level the track such that when you place the rider at any position along
its length, the rider stays more or less stationary. To level the air track, use the two
adjustable feet under the left side. The right foot is not adjustable, b u t y o u c a n
raise or lower it using sheets of paper (do not use the shims! ). It
may not be possible to completely level the track, but try as best
a s y o u c a n t o e l i m i n a t e i r r e g u l a r i t i e s i n t h e m o t i o n o f t h e rider.

Measurements

The data-taking segment of this experiment consists of two parts: motion

with constant velocity, and motion with constant acceleration.

Motion with Constant Velocity

Once you are satisfied that the track is su fficiently level, set the rider at
the 150cm mark. You will now test the setup by quickly observing the
constant velocity motion of the rider.

Observing the Rider

 Begin collecting data, and then give the rider a gentle push toward the
left. Make sure that you are able to take data over a substantial portion of the return
trip after it has bounced off the elastic bumper at the left end, and also make
sure that the position data is smooth and without  jumps.

COEFFICIENT OF RESTITUTION

When two objects collide and bounce away from each other, they tend to
lose some of their energy in the collision, and the rebound velocity
between them is therefore less than the initial velocity between them. This is why
objects that are dropped will sooner or later stop bouncing. The elasticity of the
collision can be indicated by e, t h e coefficient of restitution, which is
defined as the speed after the collision divided by the speed before the
collision. A perfectly elastic collision would have a coe fficient of restitution
equal to one; an elastic “super “ball is a good example of an object whose
coefficient of restitution in many collisions is often close to one.

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 LINEAR AIR TRACK PART A (Determination of the flatness of the air
track)

Graph of Height (h) v.s X (Distance of the photogate)

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Graph of V 2cal v.s X (Distance of the photogate)

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Determination of the flatness of the air track table:

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Percentage error

V screen average of the average = 0.8075 m/s

V cal Average of the average = 0.8082 m/s

¿ experimental−¿ theoretical
%Error = ×100 %
¿ theoretical

0.8082−0.8075
= × 100 %
0.8075

= 0.087%

Standard error for V 2 Standard error for Height (h)

0.659+0.659+0.659+ 0.637 0+0+0.0003295+ 0.0004936

= = 0.6535 = =¿
4 4
0.00020585

=0.011 = 3.7144 ×10−15

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 Part B (Determination of coefficient of restitution (e))

Table:

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Rearrangement of straight-line equation Y=MX+C

X2
⃗
e=
√ X1

X2
⃗
e 2=
X1

x2 = e2 × X 1
⃗

y=mx+c

e= √ m and X 1 =¿x

(120, 57.02) and (140, 62.78)

y 2− y 1 62.78−57.02
m= = = 0.288
x 2−x 1 140−120

e = √ m = √ 0.288 = 0.537 (The collision is elastic)

Calculation of the error in ∆ e

∆e ∆m
=
e m

2.465× 10−2
∆e = × 0.537
0.288

= 0.046

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 CONCLUSION

FLATNESS OF THE AIR TRACK

The major and most delicate levelling of the air track was carried out successful,
leaving only minor adjustments to the levelling screws located at one ends of the air
track. This final levelling of the horizontal axis of the track is done through the use of
a glider on the operating track. When the air track is accurately levelled the initial
speed from the first photogate will be constant until the last photogate. Briefly, the
glider is given an impulse at one end of the track, and its velocity is then measured
at a point near each end of the track. The same measurement is done starting the
glider at the other end of the track. For each direction, compute the velocity change
as a percent of the initial velocity. Evidence of a tilt would be indicated by the effect
of gravity. The levelling screws are then adjusted upwards or downwards, depending
on the difference in the two velocity change measurements.

COEFFICIENT OF RESTITUTION

The work-energy principle has been derived in this experiment. Using a glider on an
inclined air track, the work done by gravitational force has been experimentally
verified to equal the change in the kinetic energy of the system. When the glider is at
starting height, it starts with purely potential energy. As the glider travels down the
track, it loses potential energy and gain kinetic energy. When the glider bounces off
the bottom of the track, it loses energy in the form of sound, heat and friction. Since
the glider only returns to one-half its original height, we know that half of the original
energy was lost in the collision. In this experiment our coefficient of restitution was
calculated to be 0.537 makes the collision to be elastic. When the height is
increased, the final velocity also increases at a rate that is proportional to the square
root of the height increase and the potential energy of the system also increases with
increased height.

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