Introduction

Rather than being a guided inquiry activity, this activity is a challenge for students in which they apply the knowledge they have already gained.

In the Preliminary Observations, students observe a system with an unknown force acting on it that causes the object to accelerate. Our example is a Fan Cart, but this is not the only possibility. Students are challenged to determine the unknown force magnitude and apply an equilibrant force so that the system will stay still or move at constant velocity.

Objectives

Create equilibrium conditions after measuring acceleration and mass of a system.