The standard low-friction tracks used to test Newton's laws are the air track and the low-friction cart track. Both are commercially available and provide low-friction environments to test various physics concepts. At a recent science fair, one of the authors (JG) presented a magnetically levitated cart and track. A literature search found no previous testing of magnetically levitated carts.1 This paper compares a magnetically levitated cart against the two standard low-friction tracks.
REFERENCES
1.
A reviewer of this paper noted that using an Internet search engine revealed web articles describing the construction of magnetically levitated carts. Two are provided here: http://amasci.com/maglev/train.html and http://my.execpc.com/∼rhoadley/magtrain.htm.
2.
Barbara S.
Andereck
, “Measurement of air resistance on an air track
,” Am. J. Phys.
67
(6
), 528
–533
(June 1999
).3.
P.
Theodórsson
, “A new dynamics cart on an inclined plane
,” Phys. Teach.
33
, 458
–459
(Oct. 1995
).4.
Roger F.
Larson
, “Measuring the coefficient of friction of a low-friction cart
,” Phys. Teach.
36
, 464
–465
(Nov. 1998
).5.
Louis H.
Cadwell
, “Magnetic damping: Analysis of an eddy current brake using an air track
,” Am. J. Phys.
64
(7
), 917
–923
(July 1996
).6.
Due to the relatively large friction of the magnetic cart, a level was used (as opposed to the no-motion method usually used with air tracks) to level all the tracks. Thank you to the editor for noting the 1% contribution of the pulley to the result.
This content is only available via PDF.
© 2008 American Association of Physics Teachers.
2008
American Association of Physics Teachers
AAPT members receive access to The Physics Teacher and the American Journal of Physics as a member benefit. To learn more about this member benefit and becoming an AAPT member, visit the Joining AAPT page.