Investigating A Car's 4 Forces

To create a mousetrap car and measure its performance. We will also see where force and energy is impacting on the performance, for example friction will impact on the cars performance as it generates heat and slows to car down thus meaning that the car may not travel as far as it should. Another force that is demonstrated in testing of the car kinetic energy, without kinetic energy the car would not travel at all.

At 15 cm high, between 30 and 60 cm, the toy car accelerated at an average rate of 7.9 cm/s2 . Lastly, at 10 cm, the car accelerated at a rate of 23.8 cm/s2 between 60 and 90 cm. When the ramp was 15 cm high, between 60 and 90 cm the car accelerated ata rate of cm/s2 . The data clearly shows a positive trend because when the height of the ramp increased so did the acceleration of the car.

ground, so it accelerates. If the track tilts up, gravity applies a downward force on the back of the

As the car go down it looses its potential energy because it is not at the same height anymore. As it loses the potential energy it gains kinetic energy. Kinetic energy came along because of its high speed. The mathematical equation for this is initial kinetic energy plus initial potential energy plus external work equals final kinetic energy plus final potential energy. To find work the equation is force times distance. To find power the equation is work divided by time.

horsepower. Although these newer muscle cars do have plenty of power and will more than

Next, the independent variable was the sail car and shed car. The speed acceleration was the dependent variable. The constants marble distance of photogate the angel of the track.

Newton?s second law can be explained with the equation, A=F/M or F=MA, where A=Acceleration, F=Force, and M=Mass. In normal words, Acceleration is produced when a force acts on a mass. The greater the mass (of the object being accelerated) the greater the amount of force needed (to accelerate the object). You can use this formula to see how much force is needed to move certain objects. Lets say Mike?s car is about 1,000 kg. He pushes it at .06 m/s/s. The equation would be F=1,000(.05). The answer is F=50 Newtons (the SI unit for Force). If Bob is trying to move a van, which was about 2,000 kg at the same acceleration, then he would need to use twice the force that Mike had to because Bob?s car is 2,000 kg and Mike?s is 1,000 kg.

The aim of the experiment is to examine how the acceleration of the car differs when the angle of inclination of the ramp is amplified and to record and analyse findings.

The balloon powered race car will be powered by the balloon. The balloon will be blown into and the straw will be the source of the air going into the balloon and then pinched so there is no release of air, then release the air, measure the distance and speed of the car when air is released. This uses the three Newton laws and they are when an object is at rest it stays at rest and an object is in motion it stays in motion in a straight line at constant speed unless acted upon by an unbalanced force, the next is the acceleration of an object depends on the mass of the object and the force applied, the last is every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

2. No, the forces went in equal and opposite directions just as the rubber band and string

When you start moving that's when the motor lets go then you have kinetic energy when it falls it builds up enough energy to propel the rest of the ride. Even though you don't notice or think about it gravity is the reason you stay on the track.

The car will change its speed when I change the incline of the ramp. I am changing the incline of the ramp to see and how the speed changes.

The toy has uses two main energies, Kinetic and Potential. Potential energy is made by the pulling back of the car. Kinetic is made when after the car is

     Acceleration and Speed are obviously the two defining characteristics of a fast car. Newton’s three laws of motion are an essential part in determining how fast a

the road. How the vehicle skids depends on the coefficient of friction, or drag factor, between the