You are here
Take two toy cars of equal mass and stick a bar magnet on top of each (Fig. 6.32). Fix a metre scale on a smooth surface. Place the cars near the midpoint of the metre scale with the like poles touching. Release the cars and record the time taken (using two stopwatches), and distance travelled by each before coming to a rest. Repeat the experiment after adding equal masses to both cars. Did the cars travel equal distances in opposite directions? Plot a graph of distance travelled versus mass. Analyse and discuss your findings
![Project 2 — Two toy cars pushed - How Forces Affect Moti - [Teachoo] - Exploratory Projects](https://cdn.teachoo.com/22a86331-a5f8-4efb-9fa3-33e400954fc7/project-2-toy-cars-with-magnets.gif)
Show sample answer
Sample answer
What happens when the two cars are released?
Like poles face each other
The two magnets repel
↓
Equal and opposite forces
One acts on each car, so they move apart
↓
Equal masses
Equal forces give equal accelerations
↓
Both cars travel about the same distance, in opposite directions
- The like poles repel, so each car pushes the other away with an equal and opposite force.
- The masses are equal, so the accelerations are equal and the cars travel about equal distances.
- After equal masses are added, the same force acts on a larger mass.
- By a = F / m, a larger mass gives a smaller acceleration, so each car travels a shorter distance.
- On the graph, the distance travelled goes down as the mass goes up.
- Expected result - your reading may differ.
