The Smart Cart is the ultimate tool for your physics lab and includes built-in sensors for measuring force, position, velocity, three axes of acceleration, and three axes of rotational velocity. Patent No. 10481173
- 1x Hook
- 1x Rubber bumper
- 1x Magnetic bumper
- 1x USB cable for charging
See the Buying Guide for this item's required, recommended, and additional accessories.
Product Summary
The patented Smart Cart is the ultimate tool for studying kinematics, dynamics, Newton’s Laws, and more. It is based on a durable ABS body with nearly frictionless wheels, just like our high quality PAScars. Now, we’ve added built-in sensors that measure force, position, velocity, and acceleration. The versatile Smart Cart can collect measurements on or off a track and transmit the data wirelessly over Bluetooth. In essence, it is a wireless dynamics cart that combines all the necessary sensors, without requiring any additional hardware.
Smart Carts are ideal for studying mechanics topics, such as kinematics and dynamics. The built-in load cells enable two Smart Carts to visually demonstrate Newton’s Third Law with ease. Additionally, built-in sensors for force and acceleration enable students to investigate Newton’s Second Law in minutes. Smart Carts truly are a physics lab on wheels, and now you can own the most advanced physics cart ever created, all without the restrictions of cables.
Features
- Built-in ±100 N force sensor
- 3-axis accelerometer
- 3-axis rotational velocity sensor
- Bluetooth® connectivity
- Rechargeable battery
- Motion encoder measures position and velocity on or off the track
- Magnetic bumper for force sensor
- 3-position plunger
- Mass tray
- Velcro® tabs
- Force sensor hook and rubber bumper
Applications
- Kinematics
- Newton’s Laws
- Impulse
- Conservation of Momentum
- Elastic and Inelastic Collisions
- Conservation of Energy
- Simple Harmonic Oscillators
- Magnetic damping
- Determining g using acceleration on an incline
- And much more!
What's Included
- 1x Hook
- 1x Rubber bumper
- 1x Magnetic bumper
- 1x USB cable for charging
Product Specifications
Optical Encoder |
|
Accelerometer |
|
Force Sensor |
|
Gyro Sensor |
|
Mass (without accessories) | 250 g |
Patent No. | 10481173 |
Connectivity | USB and Bluetooth 5.2 |
Logging | No |
Battery Type | Rechargeable LiPo |
Battery & Logging
Stored Data Points Memory (Logging) 1 | Not Supported |
Battery - Connected (Data Collection Mode) 2 | Up to 7 hr |
Battery - Logging (Data Logging Mode) 3 | Not Supported |
Battery Type | LiPo |
1 Minimum # of data points with all measurements enabled, actual results depend on enabled measurements.
2 Continuous use in a connected state until battery failure, actual results will depend on sample rate, active measurements, and battery condition.
3 Logging until battery failure, actual results will depend on sample rate, active measurements, and battery condition.
* Normal classroom use is the sensor in active use for 20min/lab for 120 lab periods/yr.
Data Collection Software
This product requires PASCO software for data collection and analysis. We recommend the following option(s). For more information on which is right for your classroom, see our Software Comparison: SPARKvue vs. Capstone »
Connectivity Options
This product can connect directly to your computer or device with the following technologies. No Interface required. See the following guide for details regarding device compatibility: Wireless Bluetooth Product Compatibility »
- Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
- Universal Serial Bus (USB)
Buying Guide
Recommended Accessories | P/N | Price |
---|---|---|
Cart Mass (Set of 2) | ME-6757A | -- |
Smart Ballistic Cart Accessory | ME-1245 | -- |
Smart Cart Vector Display | ME-1246 | -- |
Smart Fan Accessory | ME-1242 | -- |
Smart Cart Rod Stand Adapter | ME-1244 | -- |
Smart Cart Charging Garage | ME-1243 | -- |
Bumper Accessory Set | ME-9884 | -- |
Smart Cart Motor | ME-1247 | -- |
Replacement Parts | P/N | Price |
---|---|---|
Magnetic Bumper Set | ME-9885A | -- |
Micro USB Cable | PS-3584 | -- |
Wireless Sensor 300 mAH Replacement Battery | PS-3296 | -- |
Wireless Sensor 300 mAH "B" Replacement Battery Use this battery if your sensor has a "B" printed on the back. See product page for details. | PS-3298 | -- |
Also Available | P/N | Price |
---|---|---|
Smart Cart (Blue) | ME-1241 | -- |
USB Bluetooth Adapter | PS-3500 | -- |
Product Guides & Articles
Dynamics Cart & Track System Configuration
Dynamics Systems provide an engaging and affordable method for physics educators to teach a variety of complex concepts in Kinematics and Dynamics. We offer a wide range of carts and tracks that make it easy to design your ideal Dynamics System, while staying under budget. In addition to durable equipment, PASCO Dynamics Systems also include access to a wealth of downloadable lab acitivities designed to get students hands-on and experimenting with key physics concepts.
Smart Cart to Vernier Comparison
The Smart Cart may appear to be equivalent to competitors like Vernier’s Go Direct Sensor Cart–they include many of the same features and specifications–but several distinctions set the PASCO Smart Cart apart.
Experiment Library
Perform the following experiments and more with the Smart Cart (Red).
Visit PASCO's Experiment Library to view more activities.
Blockly Extension: Where's My Smart Cart?
Students create a Blockly program that calibrates the position of the Smart Cart to the scale on a dynamics track. They modify the code to automatically calibrate based on the force sensor detecting a collision with the end stop.
Crash Barrier
Construct a crash barrier designed to minimize the impact force experienced by a cart in a collision.
Equations of Motion for Constant Acceleration
The motion of a Smart Cart as it accelerates down an incline is measured using Capstone software. Graphs of position and velocity are studied and comparisons are made to the standard equations of motion using User-Defined curve...
Acceleration Due to Gravity
The purpose of this lab is to measure the acceleration of a cart moving down an incline, and compare the measured value to the theoretical.
Work-Energy Theorem
A Force Sensor is used to measure the changing force applied by the stretched elastic cord, while the Smart Cart records its resulting velocity. Calculations are made and the work done by the elastic cord is compared to the increase...
Acceleration on an Inclined Track
The purpose of this lab is to study the relationships between position, velocity and acceleration for a Smart Cart moving up and then down an inclined track.
Inelastic Collisions
In this investigation you will explore how the total kinetic energy and momentum of a closed system involving two carts is affected by a perfectly inelastic collision between the carts.
Newton's Second Law
How is an object’s acceleration related to the net force acting on the object? When the forces acting on an object are unbalanced, the object accelerates. Newton’s second law describes how an object’s acceleration is related...
Archimedes’ Principle
In this lab, the buoyant force on an object is measured by taking the difference between the object's weight in air, and its apparent weight in water. This measured buoyant force is compared to the theoretical value calculated...
Smart Cart Out of the Box Experiments
A collection of quick experiments you can perform with the Smart Cart.
Forces and Motion
In this lab, students explore the relationship between force, mass, and motion using a Smart Cart on an aluminum dynamics track. The objective is to investigate how changes in cart mass and hanging mass impact the velocity and...
Graph Matching
This activity uses PASCO's MatchGraph! software. The purpose of this activity is to explore graphs of position vs. time and velocity vs. time. The motion will be measured for a Smart Cart moving along a straight line at different...