The Dynamics Cart and Track System (DTS) and Motion Detector (MD-BTD) are a great combination for studying collisions. Setting them up is fairly straight forward:
- Attach a Motion Detector to each end of the track using a Motion Detector Bracket, included in the DTS kit and available separately.
- Level the track. Place a cart on the track at rest and observe its motion. Adjust the leveling feet accordingly.
- Place the second cart on the track. Place the two carts end to end near the middle of the track.
- Connect each Motion Detector to a Vernier interface.
- In software, zero each Motion Detector and reverse one of them. Doing so with the two carts near the center of the track will create a common coordinate system for the carts.
You are now ready to begin your collision investigation. Use the hook-and-pile and magnetic cart tabs to create inelastic and elastic collisions. Use the trigger button on the plunger cart end cap to create superelastic collisions.
Some additional notes:
- You may substitute Encoder Carts and Encoder Receivers, from the Dynamics Cart and Track System with Motion Encoder (DTS-EC), for standard carts and Motion Detectors in the directions above. Be sure you have two Encoder Strips on your track, one for each Encoder Cart. A second stripe is available as Motion Encoder Long Track Strip (METS-LONG).
- You can mix and match Motion Detectors and Encoder Receivers, if you have both systems. Zeroing and reversing the Encoder Receivers works the same as it does for Motion Detectors.
- If you have a limited number of sensors, consider doubling up from multiple cart and track systems to set up collision experiments.