Use a liquid accelerometer to observe different types of motion and classify the acceleration. Students will observe straight-line motion (constant velocity and constant acceleration), and then take their knowledge of the water’s behavior to more complex circular and pendulum motion. They will discover the centripetal (toward the center) acceleration of circular motion, and the acceleration toward equilibrium of a pendulum system.
Required Equipment
Liquid Accelerometer, Constant Velocity Car, Dynamics Cart, Spring Scales, String, Rubber Band.
Download Teacher Notes and Student Worksheets
The "Rubber Band" required for this lab is readily available at your local grocery or convenience store and needs to be large enough to wrap around the accelerometer. Each lab group would need one rubber band.
