Cart Vno load = 15 mV
Vload = 36 mV
Weight of box with sand = 100 gf = 0.1 kgf = 0.1 kg 9.8 N kg-1 = 0.98 N
So a force of 0.98 N produces a voltage output of Vload - Vno load = 21 mV.
Therefore 0.98 X (100/21) N , or 4.67 N, produces a voltage output of 100 mV.
Section 2: Finding the velocity of the wagon as it collides with the buffer V0 = 6.08 V
Vt = 5.49 V average
RC = 10.0 s
So taking Vt = V0 X e-t/RC , where t is the time of discharge, we have, taking logs to the base e: Giving loge 5.49 = loge 6.08 - (t/10) X 1 The distance of travel down the runway whilst the capacitor was discharging was 0.79 m so, using s = ut + 1/2at2 , we have 0.79 = 0 + (0.5 X a X 1.022) and so a = 1.52 ms-2 So the velocity on collision with the buffer is given by v = u + at where v = 0 + 1.52 ms-2 X 1.02 s = 1.55 ms-1. Therefore the momentum of the wagon on collision was 0.187 kg X 1.55 ms-1 or 0.290 kg ms-1. Section 3: Finding the change of momentum on collision The impulse, and so the total change of momentum that took place, is shown by the area under the Voltage (force) - time trace above the baseline voltage. Calculate this first in terms of the number of small squares occupied. On that shown by area A in Figure 36.4 the number of squares was 459. Figure A36.4 Areas under graph Now to calculate how large an impulse or change of momentum each square represents. Count the number of squares on the graph paper in the area marked B (150 to 250 mV) X (-20 to 0 ms). In Figure 36.4 it is 145. 100 mV represented a force of 4.67 N, so this number of squares represents an impulse or change of momentum of (4.67 N x 20 ms) or 0.0930 Ns or 0.0930 kg ms-1. So each square represents 0.0930 kg ms-1/145 or 0.000641 kg ms-1 and the area of the trace (0.000641 kg ms-1 459) or 0.294 kg ms-1. Finding the velocity with which the wagon bounces back off the buffer The change of momentum indicated by the area of the trace will be equal to the sum of the momentum of the wagon as it collides with the buffer and of the wagon as it bounces back off the buffer. The wagon's momentum as it collided with the buffer was 0.290 kg ms-1, so its momentum on bouncing off must have been (0.294 - 0.290) kg ms-1 or 0.004 kg ms-1. With the wagon having a mass of 0.187 kg this gives a bouncing back velocity of 0.004 kg ms-1/0.187 kg = 0.021 ms-1. This final activity of the A2 unit Transport on Track brings into play a number of facets of physics dealt with in the unit: knowledge of (i) how the Time-constant RC affects a rate of discharge of a capacitor and the voltage across it, (ii) how to calculate (with uniform acceleration) acceleration and velocity when a time and distance of travel are known and (iii) how to calculate the momentum change from the area under a Force-time graph. The activity has been split into two parts. Initially the students select the material which they feel will provide the safest bumper to bring the wagon to rest. Print-outs obtained of the Voltage (force) - time graphs can be compared and that with the lowest voltage (force) for the longest time would be the winner. In the second part, possibly done for homework, the students can use the rest of the data collected, and their collision graph, to calculate the velocity with which the wagon rebounds from their buffer. This gives practice at calculating areas under graphs, using information to calibrate a sensor, using the expression Vt = Vo.e-t/RC, and using equations of motion. Using Pico DrDAQ or ADC40/42 with PicoScope software, useful results were obtained with the timebase set at 20 ms/div; the trigger at single, trigger level rising and at about 20 mV*; the X-gain at 1; the Y-gain at 20; and the % advance at -10%. With the trigger setting on 'single' the trace obtained remains on screen. Traces can be saved then or, with 'autosave', saved automatically. The force sensor is a piezo-resistive device and is linear in response up to near 15N. Any off-centre collision with the plunger has minimal effect, although it is best to arrange for the buffer box to be positioned as centrally as possible. * You may be able to lower this value but it must be high enough to prevent triggering too early. *For DrDAQ connection is made via V and Gnd and it is recommended that you screw a red lead terminated by a 4 mm plug into V and a black lead terminated by a 4 mm plug into Gnd. **For ADC40/42 connection is made via the BNC plug to 4 mm plugs lead. Figure T36.1 Wagon Meccano parts: The contact surface between the wagon's wheels and the track will need to be cleaned with emery cloth before use. It is also wise to clean the axle rods where the grub screws of the wheels make contact. Figure T36.2 Sloping track The aluminium corner is anodised and so has a non conductive coating all along it. This needs to be removed where indicated on Figure T36.2 and at the points where the nut, bolt and solder are attached. Use emery cloth to remove the coating. Place p.v.c. tape over the aluminium where it is to remain insulated. Screw the plastic downpipe firmly to the brick using the screws and Plastiplugs. Bolt the force sensor in its clip centrally (vertically and horizontally) to the flat front surface of the downpipe. Do, however, ensure that a hole is made in the downpipe to allow venting of the force sensor - note a vent hole in its base. Mount the two 4 mm sockets on the top surface of the downpipe. Detach four terminal pins from the PCB terminal strip. Solder the battery clip to two of these. Solder wires to a further two terminal pins and then connect these to the red and black sockets on the downpipe respectively. Now push the PCB terminal strip pins into the socket housing so that, when it is pushed onto the force sensor the connections match with those shown in Figure T36.3. Figure T36.3 Connections to force sensor Figure T36.4 RC timing unit *The capacitor must be low leakage. Adjust the value of the 2.2 kW pre-set resistor so that its combination with the 10000 mF capacitor gives a time-constant RC of 10.0 s. This is most easily achieved by connecting the RC timing unit up as shown in Figure T36.5. Figure T36.5 RC timer unit set up for adjustment Put the switch to ON to charge up the capacitor and note the reading on the voltmeter. Put the switch to OFF. Now place a shorting lead between the two white sockets, time for 10.0 s, and remove the shorting lead. The reading on the voltmeter now needs to be 0.37 (1/e) of what it was initially. Repeat, adjusting the pre-set resistor until this is the case. If the voltage at the end of the time is too high, reduce the pre-set's resistance and vice versa. NOTE: For near perfection one should include the wagon and the track's contact resistance in this circuit when adjusting the RC timer unit to give a value of RC at 10.0 s. In reality their resistances are low, a few tens of ohms, and indeed do vary over the course of the run. Hence it is suggested that this refinement is ignored. Farnell Frizinghall Models and Railways JPR Electronics Ltd Maplin Electronics
log
So 1.703 = 1.805 - t/10 and so t = 1.02 s
Runaway Train - Teacher's Notes
Runaway train- Technician's notes
Apparatus
For making the wagon
For making the sloping track
For making the force sensor
For making RC timing unit
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