Pasco Scientific ME-9486 User manual

Instruction Manual and
Experiment Guide for
the PASCO scientific
Model ME-9486
012-05460A
7/94
©1994 PASCO scientific $5.00
Phone [phone] • FAX [phone] • TWX 910-383-2040
10101 Foothills Blvd. • P.O. Box 619011 • Roseville, CA 95678-9011 USA
better
teach physics
ways to
BALLISTIC CART
ACCESSORY
CAUTION!
DO NOT LOOK
DOWN BARREL
ON WHEN
FLASHING
BALLISTIC CART
ACCESSORY
BALL LAUNCHER
PHOTOGATE
DROP ROD JACK
POWER
OFF
ON

i
012-05460A Ballisitic Cart Accessory
Table of Contents
Section Page
Copyright, Warranty, and Equipment Return .....................................................ii
Introduction ......................................................................................................1
Equipment ........................................................................................................2
Assembly
ME-9486 Ballistic Cart Accessory ..............................................................3
ME-9487 Drop Rod Accessory ...................................................................4
Experiments
Experiment 1: Shoot and Catch - Demonstration.....................................5
Experiment 2: Tunnel - Demonstration ...................................................7
Experiment 3: Accelerating Cart - Demonstration ...................................9
Experiment 4: Inclined Plane - Demonstration .......................................11
Experiment 5: Drop Ball - Demonstration..............................................13
Experiment 6: Accelerating Cart - Demonstration ..................................15
Experiment 7: Inclined Plane - Demonstration .......................................17
Experiment 8: Bombing Run - Demonstration .......................................19
Experiment 9: Bombing Run (Computerized) ........................................21
Experiment 10: Bombing Run (Non-Computerized) ..............................25
Teacher’s Guide...............................................................................................28
Technical Support ................................................................................... Back Cover

ii
Ballistic Cart Accessory 012-05460A
Equipment Return
Should this product have to be returned to PASCO
scientific, for whatever reason, notify PASCO scientific
by letter or phone BEFORE returning the product. Upon
notification, the return authorization and shipping instruc-
tions 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 responsibility
for damage caused by improper packing. To be certain
the unit will not be damaged in shipment, observe the
following rules:
➀The carton must be strong enough for the item
shipped.
➁Make certain there is at least two inches of packing
material between any point on the apparatus and the
inside walls of the carton.
➂Make certain that the packing material can not shift in
the box, or become compressed, thus letting the instru-
ment come in contact with the edge of the box.
Address: PASCO scientific
10101 Foothills Blvd.
P.O. Box 619011
Roseville, CA 95678-9011
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
Copyright Notice
The PASCO scientific Model ME-9486 Ballistic Cart
Accessory 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 workmanship for 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 material or workman-
ship. 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 ship-
ment will not be covered by the warranty.) Shipping
costs for returning the equipment, after repair, will be
paid by PASCO scientific.
Copyright, Warranty and Equipment Return
Please—Feel free to duplicate this manual
subject to the copyright restrictions below.
Credits
This manual authored by: Jon Hanks and Eric Ayars

1
012-05460A Ballistic Cart Accessory
Introduction
The PASCO ME-9486 Ballistic Cart Accessory is used
with the PASCO Dynamics Cart and track (ME-9429A or
ME-9452) to shoot a plastic ball straight up from the
moving cart. If the cart is moving at a constant velocity,
the ball will fall back into the catcher on the cart. The ball
is released using a photogate so there is no impulse given
to the cart upon release as there is in other models which
used a string to release the ball. The barrel can be aimed
to ensure that the ball is shot vertically. Special no-
bounce foam prevents the ball from bouncing back out of
the catcher cup.
The PASCO ME-9487 Drop Rod Accessory can be
mounted to the Ballistic Cart Accessory so a special plas-
tic ball can be dropped from rest (relative to the cart)
above the moving cart. Also the drop rod can be rotated
away from the cart so the ball will drop onto the floor to
perform bombing runs.
➤NOTE: It is better to use a 2.2 m track (ME-
9452) rather than the 1.2 m track (ME-9429A) be-
cause it gives you more room to work.

2
Ballistic Cart Accessory 012-05460A
Trip Bracket
assembly
9-volt
battery
Equipment
yellow nylon
balls (2)
CAUTION!
DO NOT LOOK
DOWN BARREL
ON WHEN
FLASHING
BALLISTIC CART
ACCESSORY
BALL LAUNCHER
PHOTOGATE
DROP ROD JACK
POWER
OFF
ON
Ballistic Cart
Accessory
thumbscrews (2)
ME-9486 Ballistic Cart accessory Equipment
The ME-9486 Ballistic Cart Accessory includes the
following:
• one Ballistic Cart Accessory
• one Trip Bracket assembly
• one 9-volt battery
• two yellow nylon balls
• two thumbscrews
Drop Rod
Accessory
modified pink
nylon balls (2)
The ME-9487 Drop Rod Accessory includes the
following:
• oneDrop Rod Accessory
• two modified pink nylon balls
ME-9487 Drop Rod Accessory Equipmemt

3
012-05460A Ballistic Cart Accessory
ME-9486 Ballistic Cart Accessory
Battery Installation
➀Turn the unit on its side and install the 9-volt battery
in the bottom of the unit. See Figure 1.
Attaching the Ballistic Cart Accessory to a Dynamics
Cart
➀Remove the two mounting screws (see Figure 2) from
their storage place on the side of the unit. (There are
two extra screws included with the Ballistic Cart Ac-
cessory.) Use these screws to attach the Ballistic Cart
Accessory to the mass tray of the dynamics cart.
Assembly
“ON” LED
battery
holder
bottom of
unit
Figure 1: Battery Installation
AIM ADJUST
DROP ROD CLAMP
DROP ROD JACK
AIM ADJUST
➁Slide the photogate trip bracket into the T-slot on the
dynamics track. See Figure 3.
Figure 2: Ballistic Cart Installation
Dynamics Cart
thumbscrews
(2)
power
switch
aim adjust
screws
Ballistic Cart
Accessory
thumbscrew
storage
Drop Rod
jack
INSTRUCTIONS
1. MOUNT UNIT ON CART.
2. TURN UNIT ON.
3. INSERT AND DEPRESS BALL.
4. INTERRUPT PHOTOGATE TO LAUNCH
BALL.
AIM ADJUST
FORWARD - BACK
TURN UNIT OFF WHEN NOT IN USE
9V BATTERY LOCATED UNDER
MOUNTING BRACKET
DROP ROD JACK
ON
POWER
OFF
PASCO
scientific
DYNAMICS
CART ME-9430
Figure 3: Using the Trip Bracket
nylon
thumbscrew
bracket
“L” bracket
bracket
thumbscrew
dynamics cart
track
square nut
Dynamics
Cart
assembled
trip bracket
Ballistic Cart
Accessory
ball launcher
photogate

4
Ballistic Cart Accessory 012-05460A
Setting Up the Ballistic Cart Accessory
➀Move the aim adjusting screws (see Figure 2) in and
out to check that the barrel moves freely. Do this by
looking down the barrel while adjusting the screws. If
the barrel sticks it is because the foam catches it. To
remedy this, gently lift up slightly on the edges of the
foam to unstick it from the barrel.
➁Level the dynamics track. To check if the track is
level, place the cart on the track and give it a small
push in one direction. Then push it in the opposite di-
rection to see if the cart rolls easier in one direction
than the other. Also make the track level from side-to-
side by placing the plastic ball at rest on the track to
see if it rolls one way or the other.
➂With the cart at rest on the level track, adjust the aim
adjust screws until the ball shoots straight up and
lands back in the catcher cup. Use a penny or dime to
trip the photogate when the cart is at rest. Remember,
the power switch must be turned on before the trip
switch will operate. The LED will blink while the
power is on. Also remember to turn the power switch
off before storing the accessory.
➤NOTE: The trip switch must be mounted on the
same side as the photogate on the Ballistic Cart. See
Figure 3.
ME-9487 Drop Rod Accessory
Drop Rod Installation
➀Use the 11/2 inch metal screws to fasten the drop rod
clamp to the side of the Ballistic Cart Accessory. See
Figure 4. Screw the thumb screw into the end of the
drop rod clamp.
➁Thread the cord from the drop rod through the drop
rod clamp and clamp the end of the drop rod by tight-
ening the thumb screw.
➤CAUTION: Do not over-tighten the screw or
the tube may be crushed.
➂Plug the drop rod cord into the drop rod jack on the
side of the Ballistic Cart Accessory.
➤NOTE: Plugging this cord in disables the
launching mechanism of the Ballistic Cart Acces-
sory so when you want to use the launcher you
must unplug the drop rod accessory.
➃Note that the Drop Rod Accessory requires a special
ball that has an iron
insert. The balls for
the Drop Rod Ac-
cessory and the Bal-
listic Cart Acces-
sory are different
colors so they can
be easily distin-
guished. To hang
the ball from the
drop rod, the pin on
the drop rod must
be inserted into the
small hole in the
ball. See Figure 5.
AIM ADJUST
DROP ROD CLAMP
DROP ROD JACK
AIM ADJUST
drop rod
Ballistic Cart
Accessory
drop rod
jack 1 1/2inch
metal
mounting
screws (2)
nylon
thumbscrew
drop rod cord
Figure 4: Drop Rod Installation. Figure 5: Ball and Drop Rod
drop rod
pin
modified pink
ball

5
012-05460A Ballistic Cart Accessory
Experiment 1: Shoot and Catch - Demonstration
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
– Ballistic Cart Accessory (ME-9486)
– Dynamics Cart and track (ME-9452)
Purpose
This demonstration shows that when the ball is shot vertically upward from the cart while the
cart is moving at any constant speed, the ball will land back in the cart.
Procedure
➀Prior to the beginning of the demonstration, perform the Setup procedure.
➁With the cart at rest on the track, load the ball and trip the release mechanism with a penny or
other opaque object. This proves to the students that the ball is being launched straight up.
➂Put the photogate trip bracket near one end of the track, leaving enough room to push the cart up
to its maximum speed before it reaches the trip bracket. See Figure 1.1. Load the ball and start
the cart from that end of the track by giving the cart a gentle push. The cart will move slowly and
the ball will be caught.
➃Return the cart to the end of the track. Load the ball and give the cart a stronger push.
➤CAUTION! You must catch the cart with your hand before the cart reaches the end stop on
the track because the cart will derail when it’s moving fast. The ball will be caught at any cart
speed.
➤NOTE: If you have the Drop Rod Accessory, try putting it on the Ballistic Cart Accessory to
act as a reference line. With this reference line, the ball appears to go straight up and down.
Without the reference, the ball may appear to go in a parabola.
Figure 1.1: Setup for Shoot and Catch
end stop
trip bracket ball launcher
photogate

6
Ballistic Cart Accessory 012-05460A
Notes:

7
012-05460A Ballistic Cart Accessory
Experiment 2: Tunnel - Demonstration
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
– Ballistic Cart Accessory (ME-9486)
– Dynamics Cart and track
– Cardboard box (33 cm {13"} cube) for tunnel (construction details given below)
Purpose
This demonstration shows that the ball can be caught by the cart even if the cart passes through a
tunnel while the ball is in the air. The tunnel accentuates the parabolic path of the ball.
Procedure
➀Prior to the beginning of the demonstration, perform the Setup procedure.
➁Construct a tunnel from a cardboard box: Cut the flaps off two opposing ends of the box. Cut a
15 cm wide, 27 cm high hole in these two opposing ends of the box. See Figure 2.1.
➂Set the box upside-down over the middle of the dynamics track. Check the clearance by running
the cart through the tunnel.
➃Position the photogate trip bracket in front of the tunnel so the ball will be launched just before
the cart enters the tunnel.
➄Load the ball and push the cart toward the tunnel. You may have to practice to get the right
speed so the cart will make it through the tunnel before the ball comes down.
➤CAUTION! You must catch the cart with your hand before the cart reaches the end stop on
the track because the cart will derail when it’s moving fast.
tunnel
trip bracket
Ballistic Cart
Accessory
CAUTION!
DO NOT LOOK
DOWN BARREL
ON WHEN
FLASHING
BALLISTIC CART
ACCESSORY
BALL LAUNCHER
PHOTOGATE
DROP ROD JACK
POWER
OFF
ON
Figure 2.1: Tunnel

8
Ballistic Cart Accessory 012-05460A
Notes:

9
012-05460A Ballistic Cart Accessory
Experiment 3: Accelerating Cart - Demonstration
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
– Ballistic Cart Accessory (ME-9486)
– Dynamics Cart and track
– String
– Clamp-on pulley
– 50 gram mass and mass hanger
Purpose
This demonstration shows that when the ball is shot vertically upward from the cart while the
cart is accelerating, the ball will not land in the cart.
Procedure
➀Prior to the beginning of the demonstration, perform the Setup procedure.
➁Clamp the pulley to the end of the track. Attach a string (about 1 meter long) to the cart and pass
it over the pulley. Hang about 50 grams on the string. See Figure 3.1.
➂Put the photogate trip bracket in a position where it will launch the ball after the cart has begun
to move.
➃Start the cart as far back as possible, load the ball, and let it go. In this case, the ball will fall
behind the cart.
➤CAUTION! You must catch the cart with your hand before the cart reaches the end stop on
the track because the cart will derail when it’s moving fast.
Figure 3.1: Accelerating Cart.
trip bracket
string
end stop
pulley
table
50g

10
Ballistic Cart Accessory 012-05460A
Notes:

11
012-05460A Ballistic Cart Accessory
Experiment 4: Inclined Plane - Demonstration
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
– Ballistic Cart Accessory (ME-9486)
– Dynamics Cart and track
– Table clamp and rod
– Rod clamp for dynamics track
Purpose
This demonstration shows that a ball launched from a cart that is accelerating down an inclined
plane will be caught by the cart regardless of the angle of incline.
Procedure
➀Prior to the beginning of the demonstration, perform the Setup procedure.
➁Incline the track using the table clamp and rod. See Figure 4.1. Be careful not to choose too high
an angle because the cart will reach such a high speed that it will crash at the bottom. For any
angle you choose, be sure you catch the cart at the bottom to keep it from derailing and crashing
to the floor.
➂Put the photogate trip bracket in a position where it will launch the ball after the cart has begun
to move.
➃Start the cart at the top of the incline, load the ball, and release the cart. The ball will land in the
cart.
➤CAUTION! Remember to catch the cart!
➄Repeat the demonstration for a different angle.
➅Start the cart at the bottom of the incline. Give the
cart a push uphill so that it travels past the trip
bracket.
Figure 4.1: Inclined Plane
trip bracket
end stop
table clamp
rod clamp

12
Ballistic Cart Accessory 012-05460A
Notes:

13
012-05460A Ballistic Cart Accessory
Experiment 5: Drop Ball - Demonstration
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
– Ballistic Cart Accessory (ME-9486)
– Dynamics Cart and track
– Drop Rod Accessory (ME-9487)
Purpose
The purpose of this demonstration is to show that when the ball is dropped from the drop rod
while the cart is moving at any constant speed, the ball will land in the cart.
Procedure
➀Prior to the beginning of the demonstration, perform the Setup procedure.
➁Position the drop rod so that the ball will be directly over the cup. See Figure 5.1.
➂With the cart at rest on the track, hang the ball on the drop rod and trip the release mechanism
with a penny or other opaque object. This shows the students that the ball is drops straight down
and is caught by the cart.
➃Put the photogate trip bracket near one end of the track, leaving enough room to push the cart up
to its maximum speed before it reaches the trip bracket. Hang the ball from the drop rod and give
the cart a gentle push.
➄Return the cart to the end of the track. Hang the ball from the drop rod and give the cart a stron-
ger push. The ball will be caught at any cart speed.
➤CAUTION! You must catch the cart with your
hand before the cart reaches the end stop on the
track because the cart will derail when it’s moving
fast.
end stop
modified
pink ball Drop Rod
Accessory
trip bracket
Figure 5.1: Setup for Drop Ball

14
Ballistic Cart Accessory 012-05460A
Notes:

15
012-05460A Ballistic Cart Accessory
Experiment 6: Accelerating Cart - Demonstration
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
– Ballistic Cart Accessory (ME-9486)
– Dynamics Cart and track
– Drop Rod Accessory (ME-9487)
– String
– Clamp-on pulley
– 50 gram mass and mass hanger
Purpose
This demonstration shows that when the ball is dropped from the drop rod on a cart that is accel-
erating, the ball will not land in the cart.
Procedure
➀Prior to the beginning of the demonstration, perform the Setup procedure.
➁Position the drop rod so that the ball will be directly over the cup.
➂Clamp the pulley to the end of the track. Attach a string (about 1 meter long) to the cart and pass
it over the pulley. Hang about 50 grams on the string. See Figure 6.1.
➃Put the photogate trip bracket in a position where it
will drop the ball after the cart has begun to move.
➄Start the cart as far back as possible, hang the ball
on the drop rod, and release the cart. In this case,
the ball will fall behind the cart.
➤CAUTION! You must catch the cart with your
hand before the cart reaches the end stop on the
track because the cart will derail when it’s moving
fast.
Drop Rod
Accessory
string
50g
modified
pink ball
trip bracket
end stop
pulley
table
Figure 6.1: Accelerating Cart

16
Ballistic Cart Accessory 012-05460A
Notes: