PASCO Specialty & Mfg. Ballistic Pendulum ME-9845 Manual De Usuario
Ballistic Pendulum Accessory
Model No. ME-9845
4
®
Introduction
Using the ME-9845 Ballistic Pendulum Accessory and a PASCO Roller Coaster Set
(ME-9812), students can investigate conservation of energy and momentum for a collision.
(ME-9812), students can investigate conservation of energy and momentum for a collision.
When the student rolls a Mini-Car from a known height down a Roller Coaster, the car is
captured by a catcher (included with the PASCO Roller Coaster Set). The student connects
two pieces of thread between a plate (provided with the Ballistic Pendulum Accessory) and
the bottom of the catcher. When the car enters the catcher, the catcher swings up.
captured by a catcher (included with the PASCO Roller Coaster Set). The student connects
two pieces of thread between a plate (provided with the Ballistic Pendulum Accessory) and
the bottom of the catcher. When the car enters the catcher, the catcher swings up.
The kinetic energy of the Mini-Car is transformed into gravitational potential energy as the
car/catcher swings to a higher position. The student measures the maximum height of the
catcher’s swing.
car/catcher swings to a higher position. The student measures the maximum height of the
catcher’s swing.
Equipment Setup
1. Assemble the Roller Coaster, so that the track starts at an incline from mid-height
(See Figure 1).
2. Place the photogate support peg on the Roller Coaster. Use the approximate placement
hole as shown.
support plate
peg
catcher
peg for photogate
Figure 1: Position of Pendulum, Catcher, and Photogate
thread