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
- 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
| Force Range | ±100 N |
| Force Resolution | 0.1 N |
| Force Accuracy | ±1.0% |
| Force Maximum Sampling Rate | 2.0 kHz |
| Position Resolution | ±0.2 mm |
| Max Velocity | ±3.0 m/s |
| Velocity Max Sample Rate | 500 Hz |
| Acceleration Range | ±16 g |
| Acceleration Max Sample Rate | 500 samples/second |
| Max Rotational Speed Sampling Rate | 500 samples/second |
| Max Wireless Range | 30 m (unobstructed) |
| Maximum Measurable Rotation Rate (Gyro) | ±245 deg/second |
| Mass Without Accessories | 245 g |
| Patent No. | 10481173 |
| Magnetic Bumper Mass | 23.6 g |
Battery & Logging
| Stored Data Points Memory (Logging) 1 | Not Supported |
| Battery - Connected (Data Collection Mode) 2 | >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.
Software Required
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 »
Dedicated Datalogging with SPARK LXi
Consider an all-in-one, touchscreen data collection, graphing, and analysis tool for students. Designed for use with wired and wireless sensors, the SPARK LXi Datalogger simultaneously accommodates up to five wireless sensors and includes two ports for blue PASPORT sensors. It features an interactive, icon-based user interface within a shock-absorbing case and arrives packaged with SPARKvue, MatchGraph!, and Spectrometry software for interactive data collection and analysis. It can additionally connect via Bluetooth to the following interfaces: AirLink, SPARKlink Air, and 550 Universal Interface.
Buying Guide
| Recommended Accessories | P/N | Price |
|---|---|---|
| NewSmart Ballistic Cart Accessory | ME-1245 | $199 |
| NewSmart Cart Vector Display | ME-1246 | $75 |
| Smart Fan Accessory | ME-1242 | $75 |
| Smart Cart Rod Stand Adapter | ME-1244 | $20 |
| Smart Cart Charging Garage | ME-1243 | $110 |
| Bumper Accessory Set | ME-9884 | $19 |
| Replacement Parts | P/N | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Magnetic Bumper Set | ME-9885A | $25 |
| Micro USB Cable | PS-3584 | $10 |
| Also Available | P/N | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Smart Cart (Blue) | ME-1241 | $169 |
| USB Bluetooth Adapter | PS-3500 | $14 |
Product Guides
Dynamics System Configuration
Dynamics Systems provide an engaging and affordable method for physics educators to teach a variety of complex concepts. We offer a variety of cart and track options that enable educators to personalize their Dynamics System, while staying within their budget. Compare our cutting-edge carts, sleek and expandable tracks, and various price points to determine which system suits your applications.
Lab Activities & Experiments
| Experiment: Average & Instantaneous Velocity & Speed | 583.75 KB | |
| Experiment: Centripetal Acceleration & Force | 462.56 KB | |
| Experiment: Hooke’s Law | 319.93 KB | |
| Experiment: Impulse Demonstration | 226.11 KB | |
| Experiment: Newton’s Second Law Demonstration | 180.02 KB | |
| Experiment: Static & Kinetic Friction | 543.98 KB | |
| Experiment: The Differences Between Velocity & Acceleration | 452.53 KB | |
| Experiment: Work-Energy Theorem | 438.72 KB | |
| Lab: Average = Speed & Velocity | 107.80 KB | |
| Lab: Conservation of Energy | 182.41 KB | |
| Lab: Conservation of Momentum | 171.35 KB | |
| Lab: Graphical Analysis Motion | 118.65 KB | |
| Lab: Momentum & Explosions | 112.21 KB | |
| Lab: Momentum & Impulse | 104.61 KB | |
| Lab: Speed & Velocity Graphs | 101.01 KB | |
| Lab: Work & Kinetic Energy | 158.68 KB |
Experiment Library
Perform the following experiments and more with the Smart Cart (Red).
Visit PASCO's Experiment Library to view more activities.
Conservation of Mechanical Energy
Students use a Smart Cart and dynamics system to explore how the kinetic energy, gravitational potential energy, and total mechanical energy of a cart/earth system changes as the cart rolls down an inclined track.
Momentum and Explosions
How is the total momentum of a two-object system affected by an explosion? Experimentally determine if linear momentum is conserved in a system that experiences an explosion.
Conservation of Momentum
Students use two Smart Carts and a dynamics system to demonstrate that linear momentum and kinetic energy are conserved in an elastic collision, and linear momentum is conserved but kinetic energy is not conserved in an inelastic...
Momentum and Impulse
How is the impulse imparted to an object in a collision related to the change in momentum of the object? Investigate the relationship between the change in momentum of a cart undergoing a collision and the impulse imparted to...
Graphical Analysis: Motion
In this lab, students use a motion sensor to measure the position and velocity of a cart on a track to determine the graphical relationship between position, velocity, and acceleration versus time graphs.
Work and Kinetic Energy
Students use a Smart Cart and dynamics system to investigate the relationship between the change in kinetic energy of an object experiencing a non-zero net force and the work done by that net force on the object, and then use...
Support Documents
| Manuals | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Wireless Smart Cart Manual | English | 972.15 KB | |
