Spring Cart Launcher

Study Hooke's Law and Conservation of Energy

Convenient new Spring Cart Launcher

  • » Supports quality quantitative measurements

Spring Cart Launcher  (ME-6843)

Spring Cart Launcher

A Force Sensor pulls on the plunger, compressing the spring, as a motion sensor measures the resulting displacement of the cart.

Hooke's Law and Conservation of Energy Experiment

Use PASCO's new Spring Cart Launcher to study Hooke's Law and Conservation of Energy. Vary all parameters, including mass of cart, spring constant and the amount of spring compression.

The Spring Cart Launcher includes three springs with different spring constants.

Spring Constant Graph

The spring constant (99.0 N/m) is the slope of the Force vs. Displacement graph. Enlarge image

Part I: Hooke's Law

Determining the Spring Constant

Your students will feel the increasing force as they pull the Force Sensor attached to the spring on the Spring Cart Launcher. The distance the spring is compressed is measured using a Motion Sensor and the graph of force versus displacement is plotted in real time. The spring constant is determined from the slope of the graph.

Part II: Conservation of Energy

Kinetic Energy Graph

First, use the Motion Sensor to measure the compression of the spring (6.52 cm). Enlarge image

Spring Potential Energy

The spring is compressed by pulling the rod of the Spring Cart Launcher through two endstops. Then the end of the Spring Cart Launcher is held in place using a pin. The potential energy is measured using a Motion Sensor to record the displacement of the spring.

Kinetic Energy Graph

This graph shows the launch velocity (0.814 m/s) of the cart. For this experiment, about 90% of the stored potential energy was converted into the kinetic energy of the 555 g cart. Enlarge image

Kinetic Energy

The pin is pulled, releasing the cart, and the Motion Sensor is used to measure the launch velocity of the cart. The students can compare the stored potential energy in the spring to the resulting kinetic energy of the cart.

Spring Cart Launcher

Download the Hooke's Law/Conservation of Energy experiment files:

Here's what you'll need:

Dynamic System
PAScar Dynamics System (ME-6955)

This Dynamics System will be the foundation of experiments through most of the year -- probably the most versatile piece of equipment in your physics lab. Includes two low-friction high-impact polycarbonate carts, a 1.2-meter aluminum track, 2 adjustable feet, 2 adjustable end stops, a rod clamp and two 250 g masses.

Spring Cart Launcher
Spring Cart Launcher (ME-6843)

The Spring Cart Launcher fastens directly into the mass tray of all PASCO Carts, and is designed to ensure that most of the potential energy stored in the spring is converted into the kinetic energy of the cart. Includes 3 springs with different spring constants.

Xplorer GLX- Motion Sensor - Force Sensor
Xplorer GLX (PS-2002)

Provides convenient and powerful data collection and analysis -- even without a computer. Includes 2 temperature sensors, voltage sensor, built-in speaker and sound sensor. A great value for physics lab.

PASPORT Motion Sensor (PS-2103A)
PASPORT Force Sensor (PS-2104)
Elastic Bumper
Elastic Bumper Kit (two pair) (ME-8998)

The open design of the Elastic Bumper allows measurements to be made while protecting the Motion Sensor.

Compact Cart Mass (ME-6755)

The Compact Cart Mass fits in the tray of the cart with the Spring Cart Launcher.

Already have a PASCO Dynamics System?

New PAScar Dynamics System include the new Adjustable End Stops. If you need to add these to your existing system, order Adjustable End Stops (ME-8971). Comes in set of two, and both are required for the Spring Cart Launcher: one to compress against and the other to pin the Spring Cart Launcher while it is compressed.

PASCO solution at a glance

For more product information, specifications, to request a quote or place an order, click the product links to the left.

Featured Products

Spring Cart Launcher
  • PAScar Dynamics System
    (ME-6955)

    Includes two low-friction high-impact polycarbonate carts, a 1.2 meter aluminum track, 2 adjustable feet, 2 adjustable end stops, a rod clamp and two 250 g masses.

Dynamic System