PURPOSE: To show Newton's second law.
DESCRIPTION: A dynamic cart rests at one end of a long, level dynamic track. Load the spring mechanism on the dynamic cart by pushing it in and upward. Use a mallet to carefully release the hair trigger and allow the spring to push the cart the length of the track. Now reset the spring and add two masses to triple the mass of the cart. Again, release the hair trigger with the mallet and show that the cart moves some shorter distance. This is similar to the air track glider but there is some small amount of desirable friction and no noise because there is no air blower.
EQUIPMENT: long dynamic track, spring loaded dynamic cart, two masses.
SETUP NOTES: Be sure that the track is leveled.