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- cartsteepslope.mp4
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- cart steep slop.trk

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Author: Leong Tze Kwang

Document Brief: Title: "Tracker Free Body Diagram: Cart Rolling Down a Gentle 4-Degree Slope by RGS Leong Tze Kwang"

This document explores the dynamics of a cart rolling down a 4-degree inclined slope. Using Tracker software, the free-body diagram (FBD) of the cart is analyzed to visualize and quantify the forces involved in the motion. The study provides a practical understanding of kinematics and dynamics principles, focusing on incline motion.

Study Guide:

Objective:

• Analyze the motion of a cart rolling down a gentle slope using Tracker software.

• Construct and interpret a free-body diagram to understand the forces at play.

Key Concepts:

1. Inclined Plane Dynamics:

   • Decomposition of gravitational force into parallel and perpendicular components.

2. Free Body Diagram (FBD):

   • Representation of forces including gravity, normal force, and friction.

3. Kinematics and Acceleration:

   • Relationship between slope angle, net force, and acceleration.

Experiment Setup:

• Materials:

  • A cart, a smooth 4-degree inclined plane, and Tracker software.

• Procedure:

  1. Place the cart at the top of the incline and release it without an initial push.

  2. Record the motion using a high-speed camera.

  3. Analyze the video in Tracker, marking the cart's position over time.

  4. Construct the FBD for the cart and calculate forces using the measured data.

Expected Observations:

• The cart accelerates down the slope due to the component of gravitational force along the incline.

• Friction and air resistance slightly reduce acceleration from the theoretical value.

• The normal force counteracts the perpendicular component of gravity.

Questions to Consider:

1. What forces act on the cart?

   • Answer: Gravitational force, normal force, and friction.

2. How does the incline angle affect acceleration?

   • Answer: A steeper angle increases the parallel component of gravitational force, leading to higher acceleration.

3. Why is friction included in the FBD?

   • Answer: Friction opposes motion and influences net force and acceleration.

4. What assumptions are made in this analysis?

   • Answer: Negligible air resistance and constant friction coefficient.

5. How can energy conservation be applied here?

   • Answer: Potential energy converts into kinetic energy, with some energy dissipated due to friction.

FAQ:

1. Why use Tracker for this analysis?

   • Tracker enables precise measurement of the cart's position, velocity, and acceleration over time.

2. How is the FBD useful?

   • It visually represents all forces acting on the cart, helping to understand the motion dynamics.

3. What is the significance of the slope angle?

   • The slope angle determines the magnitude of the gravitational force component driving the motion.

4. How does friction affect the results?

   • Friction reduces the net force and actual acceleration compared to the theoretical value.

5. Can this setup be extended?

   • Yes, experiments with varying slope angles, cart masses, or surface materials can provide deeper insights.

Would you like to include additional scenarios or visualizations for this analysis?