Pasco Scientific Precision 2.0 User manual

012-02149B
Instruction Manual and
9/91
Experiment Guide for
the PASCO scientific
Model SF-9214
Pr ecision 2 .0 Meter
Air Track
Copyright © January 1988 $5.00
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012-02149B
T abl e of Contents
II II
Section Page
Copyright, Warranty, and Equipment Return.......................................... ... ...... ii
Introduction ........................................................................................
.. ............ 1
Equipment.....................................................................................
... ................. 1
The Accessory Tray......................................
.. ............................................... .. . 2
Equipment Setup............................................................................................... 3
Accessories ...............
.. ................................................................................... ... 4
Maintenance...................................................................................................... 6
Experiments ...................................................................................................... 6
Replacement Parts ................................................................................
.. .......... 7
Recommended Equipment................................................................................ 8
MSCO scientific

012·02149B
Copyright and Warranty
II
II
Please-Feel free to duplicate this manual
subject
to the copyright restrictions below.
Copyright Notice
The PASCO scientific Model SF-9214 Precision 2.0
Meter Air Track manual is copyrighted and all rights
reserved. However, permission is granted to non-
profit educational institutions for reproduction
of any
part
of this manual providing the reproductions are
used only for their laboratories and are not sold for
profit. Reproduction under any other circumstances,
without the written consent
of PASCO scientific, is
prohibited.
Limited Warranty
PASCO scientific warrants this product to be free from
defects in materials and ',vorkmanshipfor a period
of
one year from the date of shipment to the customer.
PASCO will repair or replace, at its option, any part
of
the product which is deemed to be defective in mate-
rial or workmanship. This warranty does not cover
damage
to the product caused by abuse or improper
use. Determination
of whether a product failure is the
result
of a manufacturing defect or improper use by the
customer shall be made solely by PASCO scientific.
Responsibility for the return
of equipment for warranty
repair belongs to the customer. Equipment must be
properly packed to prevent damage and shipped
postage or freight prepaid. (Damage caused
by
improper packing of the equipment for return shipment
will not be covered
by the warranty.) Shipping costs
for returning the equipment, after repair, will be paid
by PASCO scientific.
Equipment Return
II
II
Should this product have to be returned to PASCO
scientific, for whatever reason, notify PASCO scien-
tific by letter or phone BEFORE returning the product.
Upon notification, the return authorization and ship-
ping instructions will be promptly issued.
NOTE: NO EQUIPMENT WILL BE
ACCEPTED FOR RETURN WITHOUT AN
AUTHORIZATION.
When returning equipment for repair, the units must be
packed properly. Carriers will not accept responsibil-
ity for damage caused by improper packing. To be
certain the unit will not be damaged in shipment, ob-
serve the following rules:
CD The carton must be strong enough for the item
shipped.
@ Make certain there is at least two inches of packing
material between any point on the apparatus and
the inside walls
of the carton.
@ Make certain that the packing material can not shift
in the box, or become compressed, thus letting the
instrument come in contact with the edge of the
box.
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012-02149B
Equipment
II II
Introduction
The PASCO Model SF-9214 Air Track is 2.0 meters
long with a guaranteed straightness to within .04 mm
over its entire length. The track construction
is a large
square aluminum extrusion
of 3 mm thick walls that
are further strengthened by a supporting U-channel.
A single foot support at one end and a double foot at
the other end allows for lengthwise and sideways
leveling.
Unpacking and Setup
The SF-9214 Air Track is shipped in two containers, a
large tube (containing the track) and a cardboard box
(containing the accessories).
Gently remove one end from the air track shipping tube
• CAUTION: Use care not to scratch or nick the
upper surfaces of the track. (Those containing the
airholes.) Any protrusion
on this surface may
impede the motion of the glider.
Air Track
and carefully pull the track, with the alignment beam
attached, from the tube.
Equipment included:
• 2 m Air Track Envelope
Accessories:
Envelope: Top Layer
• 2 (100 mm) Flags
Top Layer:
• 1 Accessory tray
Middle Layer:
• 2 Gliders
• Mounting hardware (2 single leg screws, 2 double
leg screws, (1) 4 mm wrench, (1) 5 mm wrench)
Bo ttom Layer:
• 1 Single leg
• 1Double leg w/adjustable feet
• 2 End Stops
Additional Equipment Required:
• Air Supply (Model SF-9416) Accessories Box
PASCO scientific

50 g Additional Mass for
Rubber Band Bumpers
wibanana plug (3PL)
Mounting Screw for
End Stops (4PL)
1 Mass hanger
and Mass set Bumper Blade
on
cylinder wibanana
plug (2PL)
Hook attachment
wibanana plug
w/banana plug Needle on cylinder
wibanana plug
1 Wax filled cylinder
gliders (4PL)
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The Accessory Tray
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012-02149B
Equipment Setup
II II
Assembling the Air Track
1. Use the screws and Allen wrenches provided and
attach the single and double leveling foot to the Air
Track U-channel as shown in Figure
2.
wrench
5mmAlien
wrench Bracket
Figure 2 Attaching the Leveling Feet
2. Install one end stop at
each end
of the AirTrack
using the mounting
screws included
in the
accessory tray.
Figure 3 Installing
End Stops
Leveling the Ai r Track
Place the Air Track on a stable, level table and rotate
the two adjustable feet until the Air Track is as level as
possible. A bubble level may be used to approximately
level the track.
The final leveling, however, must be accomplished in
the following manner:
CD Connect the Air Track to the Air Supply and tum
the
Air Supply on.
CV Place a glider in the middle of the track without
. initial velocity.
® Adjust the leveling screws until the glider remains
at its initial position, not accelerating in either
direction.
~ NOT E: The glider may oscillate slightly
about its position. This movement is caused by
air currents from the
air holes in the track and
should be considered normal.
Adjusting the Air Supply
The Air Supply PASCO Model SF-9216 is connected
to the Air Track by the air fitting on one end
of the
track. The output
of the blower should be adjusted so
that the glider
just floats on the track. Excessive air
pressure may cause the glider to wander on the track,
even in the absence
of an accelerating force.
The Air Supply will slightly heat the Air Track,
causing it to expand. The adjustment beam under the
track has been set such that the track will be straight to
+/- .04 mm when warm, or after 5 minutes
of operation
with the Air Supply.
PASCO scientific
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012-02149B
Accessories
II
II
Glider
The black anodized aluminum glider has a mass of
180 g ±1 g and a length of 129 rnm ±1 mm .
.
To increase the mass of the glider simply place the
supplied masses on the steel pins protruding from each
side
of the glider.
Additional Masses 50 g each
,.. NOT E: Masses must always be added sym-
metrically (the same number on each side),
or the
glider will not function properly.
Glider accessories, such
as the rubber band bumpers,
are mounted in one
of the boles located at each end of
the glider.
,.. NOTE: In most cases the accessories should
be mounted in the lower hole, so as not to inter-
fere with any photogate operation
..
These accessories will increase the mass of the glider
and must be taken into account in all calculations.
•
IMPORTANT: If an accessory (such as the
bumper plate) is placed on one end
of the glider,
then an accessory
of equal mass (such as a
bumper or the bumper plate) should be
placed at the opposite end.
This way the glider
will remain
level on the
Air Track
and will not
tend to propel
itself in one
direction.
Fl ags
When using photogates to measure the velocity of the
glider, insert the 100
mm flags in the top surface of
each glider to interrupt the photogate beam.
The glider itself may also be used as a "flag".
If a flag
of different length is required, simply cut a piece of
thin cardboard or aluminum to the desired length and
tape it to the top
of the glider.
,.. NOTE: The following accessories mount to
the Air Track End Stop or the Glider via standard
4
IDOl plugs. Except for the Pulley, each acces-
sory weighs approximately
10. grams.
Always load a glider symmetrically, one acces-
sory on each end
Rubber Band Bumpers
These bumpers provide a soft collision, eliminating any
vibration
of the glider as it collides with another glider
or an end stop.
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012-02149B
When mounted on the End Stops,
these bumpers may also be used
as glider launchers:
-Pull the glider
back until it
touches the nut
on the end of the
bumper.
-Release the
glider.
-Change the
impulse imparted to the glider
by moving the
rubber band to a different groove
in the bumper.
Bumper Plate
This plate mounts on the end of the glider and is
designed
to collide with the rubber band bumper.
Wax Tube and Needle
The wax tube is mounted on the end of a glider for an
inelastic collision. After a number
of collisions the wax
should be pressed into the tube to maintain adequate
adhesion with the needle.
The needle
is mounted on the end of the second glider.
It needs to be positioned so the needle will stick into
the wax tube
of the other glider once the two gliders
collide, causing the gliders to stick together.
~ NOTE: The needle is covered by a small cork
for protection. When the needle is stored in the
accessory tray, replace the cork on the needle.
- -
Hook
The hook may be mounted to the end or top of the
glider. It is used to attach a string to the glider.
Pulley
The pulley is mounted in the
bottom hole
of the end stop,
opposite the air input. A string
attached to the glider, passed over
the pulley and attached to a
hanging mass on the other end
can be used
to accelerate the glider.
~ NOTE: To protect the glider,
do not let it hit the End Stop.
Rubber Band Bumper
here OR here
Air Track Mass/Hanger Set
2 g mass hanger
2 g mass (plastic)
10 g mass (metal)
5 g mass (metal)
1 g mass (plastic)
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012-02149B
Maintenance
II
II
Air Track
The only maintenance required is to keep the Air Track
surface clean and free
of scratches or nicks. When the
unit is stored make sure that nothing can damage the
Air Track surface.
If the track becomes nicked, such
that a protrusion on the surface hinders the free motion
of the glider, gently file or sand down the protrusion.
The PASCO Air Track
is factory aligned so the devia-
tion from linearity is less than ±.04 rnm. The construc-
tion
of the unit is designed that the track should remain
within these specifications for many years. However,
through excessive stress on the track it is possible that
it may get out
of alignment. This condition produces an
uneven velocity of the glider as it travels along the
track. The glider will speed up and slow down
as it
traverses the slight curves in the track.
Should uneven motion
of the glider make use of the
product objectionable, the Air Track should then be
realigned. This proCl~dure requires a special test tool
and we recommend that the unit be returned to
PASCO for adjustment. Please contact PASCO scien-
tific for information
on returning your Air Track for
alignment.
Glider
Gliders must be handled with care to maintain a
friction-free motion the Air Track.
If any scratches or
nicks develop on those surfaces that float on the track
they must be removed with a file or sandpaper.
If the
glider is dropped or bent out
of alignment, it must be
straightened so its profile matches that
of the Air
Track.
If the angle between the two sides of the glider
is too small the glider will stick
to the track. If the
angle is too large the glider will wobble as it moves on
the track.
Ru bber Band Bu mper
The rubber bands may deteriorate with time. They may
be replaced with any elastic band that produces the
desired launch and "bounce" characteristics.
,.. NOTE: To extend the life of the rubber
bands, remove them from the rubber band
bumpers when not in use. Also, exce·ssive han.
dling of the rubber bands may remove the
protective powder used to coat the rubber.
Experiments
II II
The specifics of the experiments perfonned on the Air
Track are a function
of the timing system used.
Therefore, the experiments are included with the
various timing systems available from PASCO.
Please reference the manuals provided with the follow-
ing PASCO products:
• ME-9218 Air Track and Self-contained Photogate
System
• ME-9394 Air Track and Computer Photogate
System (Apple
IT)
• ME-9363A Air Track and Computer Photogate
System (IBM PC and compatible)
• ME-9336 Air Track and Computer Sonic Ranger
System (Apple II)
• ME-9391 Air Track and Computer Sonic Ranger
System (IBM PC and compatible)
• ME-9226 Air Track and Spark Timer System
• ME-9206A Photogate Timer
• ME-921
SA Photogate Timer with Memory
• PI-802S Counter/TimerlFrequency Meter
• SF-9297 Coupled Harmonic Oscillators
6 PASCO
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012-02149B
Replacement P art s
II
II
Air Track Accessories (included):
Description
Mass/hanger set
Bumper with holder
Bumper blade
Needle
Wax. tube
Glider
hook
Glider
Additional glider mass
Pulley
100
mmFlag
End stop, fixed
Accessory Kit
(in molded case)
Part No.
655-001
655-002
655-003
655-004
655-005
655-006
655-007
655-008
655-009
655-011
655-014
SF-9295
Accessories available (not included):
Description
Part No.
End stop, adjustable 655-010
25
mmFlag 655-012
U-shaped flag 655-013
2 m Hose SF-9298
MSCOscientific
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012-02149B
Recommended Equipment
II II
Model SF -9216 Air Supply -
A variable speed air supply suitable to power one or
two Model SF-9214
Air Tracks.
Model SF -9217 T -Adaptor and Hose -
Permits operating
two Air Tracks from one air supply.
Model SF -9224 Additional Glider Kit -
This kit includes one glider with two additional 50 g
J masses, a bumper plate and a rubber band bumper.
ME -9239 Riser Block Ki t -
This set
of four aluminum riser bl ocks (.1- to 2 em
thickness) tilt the Air Track to p m::i .e and repeatable
angles.
Mod el SF ·9296 E lectri c Launcher -
This launcher, designed for use only with the PASCO
Air Track, launches the glider repeatedly with the same
impulse and velocity.
,.. Note: Requires a power supply. Refer to the
PASCO catalog.
SF -9297 Coupled Harmonic Oscill ators -
The kit includes three gliders,
SL"- 50 g masses, springs
and connecting plugs, allowing ex
pe ri ments with up to
five gliders in coupled harmonic motioD.
ME-93S6 Force Transducer to Air Track Mounting
Kit-
Mounting the PASCO Force Transducer to the Air
Track enables measuring the impulse in an air track
collision.
ME-9206A Basic Photogate Timer -
A self-contained timer with resolution to 1.0 mS and
I% accuracy
ME-921SA Ph otogate Timer with Memory -
A self-contained timer with resolution to
.1 mS, 1%
accuracy and a memory feature for taking collision
measurements.
ME-9204A Accessory Photogate -
Plugs into any
PASCO Pbotogate Timer or Counter/
Timer for taking "pulse"
or timing measurements over
longer distances.
PI-S02S
CountertrimerlFrequency Meter-
The capability of OperatiIlg as two-independent timers- -.
with memory, provides a total of four measurements in
a single experiment.
8 PASCO
scientific