Hanging Weight UFPM post

In this lab, we had to predict where we should place a constant velocity cart so thst a falling hanging weight attached to a cart will land on a track. 

1. First, we took the masses of all of the components for the experiement.
2. Then our group calculated the time and acceleration. In order to do this, we drew our FBD's, labeling Fn, Ff, and Fg.
3. Then we calculated the sum of forces in the horizontal direction to find our Fnet.

 To find acceleration, we used A= Fnet/m


To find our mass: (then converted back into kilograms)
9.892N+.509N = 10.4N
Fnet= .509
mass= 1.04N


a = .509 / .104
a= .5 m/s^2

Then we converted the weight into kg and then into Newtons.
1kg= 100grams

buggy:4.77N
pulley: .509N
 weights: 9.892N




Then we plugged in our variables to solve for time.

x= 1/2(v)(t^2)+vi(t)
t= -1.854

In order to predict where to start the buggy, we found the velocity of the cart using a motion sensor.


To find out percent error, we took a video and tested our prediction.

The pulley landed beautifully on the cart, with a 0% error!!!