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Coupled Motion Lab Purpose: The purpose of this lab activity was to predict the eclipse time of a flag attached to a moving air track car as it passed through a photogate timer. The air track car moves frictionlessly in a horizontal direction as it is driven by the coupled weight that is suspended across a pulley and hanging vertically from the air track.
Background • A force (F) is defined as a push or a pull that accelerates mass. • The magnitude of the force is proportional to the acceleration achieved. • F ~ a • The magnitude of the acceleration achieved by a force is inversely proportional to the mass of the accelerating body. • a ~ 1/m • Thus: • F = ma • Where: • M – kg • A – m/s2 • F – kg x m/s2 • 1 kg x m/s2 = 1 Newton = 1 N