Newton's Second Law
Obj: Graphically verify Newton's 2nd Law
Materials: air track & cart, masses, photogate

Methods
1.  Sketch the setup.  Set the photogate to PULSE mode.  Arrange the two photogates a distance d apart, then allow the glider to start at d_o such that it triggers the photogate immediately after launch.

Part I.
2.  Apply the accelerating force (using 10g, 20g, 30g, 40g, 50g) and calculate the glider's acceleration from the recorded time. Run the cart for 5 trials, changing the accelerating force only.

Part II.
3.  Record the mass of the "empty" glider and calculate its acceleration from the recorded time using an accelerating mass of 10g.  Run the cart for 5 trials, changing the mass of the cart in increments of 50 g.

Analysis
1.  Plot graphs of    
    (a) accelerating Force (y-axis) vs. acceleration (data from Step 2)
    (b)  acceleration (y-axis) vs.  mass of glider (data from Step 3)
2.  Calculate the slope of graph (a).  What should the slope represent?
3.  What mathematical relationship is shown in graph (b) between acceleration and mass?

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