- Physics Factsheet @ www.curriculium-press.co.ul este to Dynamic Experiments Using Light Gates Light gate set-ups almost always allow us to measure the time an object takes to travel a set distance. This, of course, allows us to calculate the average velocity over this distance. ves/t (ina stated direction) ‘Combinations of light gates can then be used in a myriad of investigations of velocity, acceleration, momentum and kinetic energy, he basic calculation Single Light Gate: ‘Acard on atralley switches a timer on, then off. as it passes in front ofa light ote. Example: The card is 20cm long and takes 0.2s 10 pass in ‘front of the light gate. Find the average velocity of te trolley. Answer: Ave, velocin, v=s/t = 20/02 fO0ems! towards the right. (b) Twin Light Gates: A thin vertical rod mounted on a trolley, pastes through two light ‘rates turning a timer on, then off Example: The gates are separated by SOcm and the time recorded is 2.05. Find the average speed of the trolley over this region Answi Ave, velocity, v = (t= $0/2.0 = 25ems" towards the right. ‘The advantage of the twin light gate system is that the greater distance should lead to greater accuracy in the calculation. BP A greater distance will lead to greater accuracy in the average velocity calculated. But remember that this technique works out the average veiocity. To determine instantaneous velocity. a very small distance must be used to ensure that the velocity does not change over the period of Acceleration ‘A very simple technique using one light gate can be used to find the acceleration of a trolley dawn a slope. (This investigation, and cothers, depends on the software of the electronics being set up to ‘make and display the appropriate measurements.) The gate is set up to record the “on-off” time as each section *a” passes the gate, The ‘on-on' time as the front of each section ‘a blocks the beam is also recorded. ‘Example: The following measurements are made. lem, 6 = 18.0em time for frst ‘a? = 0.15 time for second ‘a’ = 0.088 time for ‘b’ = 1.885 Find the acceleration of the trolley down the slope (assume uniform acceleration), Answer wes/t 5.67 ems! ‘Soms? 1070.15 3.lems? down the slope. ‘Exam Hint: Remember that acceleration must have a direction | (even if iris just “down the slope”). Velocity is also a vect Iris easy to forget this when looking at the results from the electronics, when the actual investigation may be out of sight and mind. ‘With this set-up, che width of each section ‘a’ significant compared to distance *b'. We are not finding the instantaneous velocity at the front of each Section, but the average velocity across each section 2°. This could well have a measurable effect on the accuracy of the final caleulation. A more accurate method would use a larger distance *b’. This would make the change in velocity over distance "b’ far greater than the cchange within each section ‘a’. To manage this, itis necessary to use two light gates, 4 ‘The calculation itself is the same. However you must ensure that your electronic system is set up to make the correct measurements,. 96. Dynamic Experiments UsingLight Gates Physics Factsheet don't Forget that factors such a friction can (and vwill) change as the velocity changes. Making ‘b’ too great can lead to a trolley changing acceleration significantly as it travels down the slope. This leads to further problems in the accuracy of the experiment, giving you an average value for acceleration with changing resistive force. This is probably not what you are attempting to find. Free Fall ‘The acceleration of gravity free fall) can be investigated in exactly the same way by dropping an object through two light gates. ‘The mathematics is exactly the same as in the previous situation, However getting the abject to pass through both light beams is not necessarily trivial. Momentum and Kinetic Energy in Collisions ‘The idea of conservation of momentum in collisions (and explosions) can be verified using light gates. And the loss of kinetic energy to heat and sound in collisions can also be investigated, ‘As we want constant velocity before and after the even, it is better to use air tracks rather than trolleys for collision experiments. ‘There are two main types of investigations ~ where the vehicles rebound freely From each other, and where they stick together after the collision, And within esch ofthese, you can investigate collisions where both vehicles are moving before the collision. or more simply here one is stationary. Example: On a horizontal air track, a 500g vehicle collides with and sticks to a stationary vehicle of mass 750g. Light gates allow us to measure the initial velocity of the 500g vehicle as Ocms" towards the right, and the final velocity of the pair as dems" towards the right. (See the diagram.) Find: (@) the initial momentum of the 500g vehicle (®) the final momentum of the pair (0) the kinetic energy lost in the collision. 60 ems! +— 5008 2dems Ke After: [300g | 7508 Answer: (a)momentum = (b) momentum (6) KE before = Yom KE after = 0.0363 The kinetic energy lost in collision is 0.0544. It is converted 10 heat and sound energy. my = 0.5 x 60 = 30kgems! towards the right, my = 1.25 x 24 = 30kgems" towards the right. = Arthough momentum is always conserved in acollision, some kinetic energy is almost always lost t0 heat and sound, Only in a completely elastic collision is KE conserved. Use of Graphs The values obtained for velocity and time can be converted to acceleration by determining the gradient of a v-t graph But remember that acceleration is a vector. When working from a ‘graph, itis easy to forget to state the direction in your answer. Questions [State an advantage and a disadvantage of using the two light ‘gate system, rather than a single ight gate, in determining average velocity, ‘A light gate is used to find the speed of a trolley as it rolls down a slope. The light beam is broken for 0.45s. 10m (a) Find the speed of the tolley as it passes the light gate (b) State an advantage of shortening the card to 2em rather than 10cm. (6) State & disadvantage of doing this. 3. (a) Suggest three reasons why a light gate system could not be used to find the velocity of a high-speed neutron. (0) Could such a system be used in determining the speed of a bullet? (Assume that the timing device measures to +/- one rillisecond, and thatthe light gates could be placed 5 metres apart)* 96, Dynamic Experiments UsingLight Gates Physics Factsheet 4. This set-up is used to find the acceleration of a wolley down a slope. Hiere is a table of the readings obtained. ‘Time to pass firs light gate 0.605 ‘Time to pass second light gate 0.306 “Time between light gates 7508 (@) Find the velocity at each gate (©) Find the acceleration down the slope. (c) Use an equation of motion to ealeulate the distance between the gates. (a) Why is this different from the 75cm given in the diagram? ‘ere isthe arrangement used for a conservation of momentum experiment on an air track, The two vehicles rebound from each other after the collision a c > * *& [| A B (a) How many times would each light gate be uiggered? 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