ERIC Number: EJ943469
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011-Sep
Pages: 4
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0031-9120
EISSN: N/A
A Simple Frictionless Device for the Study of Motion
Straulino, S.; Bonechi, L.
Physics Education, v46 n5 p583-586 Sep 2011
The air-cushion table is a powerful instrument to demonstrate the motion of an object in the absence of friction. Such devices are often rather large and do not fit very easily in the classroom. In a different version of this experience, gas comes directly out of the disc itself, which is provided, for example, by a tank of dry ice that slowly sublimates. This second kind of device is more suitable for use outside the laboratory. On the basis of examples found on the internet, and with the aim of further simplifying usage, we produced a disc which exploits the air contained in a rubber balloon to reduce the sliding friction. We describe its features to enable teachers to reproduce it and analyse data extracted from pictures taken with a digital camera. (Contains 6 figures and 5 footnotes.)
Descriptors: Photography, Motion, Physics, Science Instruction, Scientific Principles, Secondary School Science, Laboratory Equipment
Institute of Physics Publishing. The Public Ledger Building Suite 929, 150 South Independence Mall West, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 215-627-0880; Fax: 215-627-0879; e-mail: info@ioppubusa.com; Web site: http://journals.iop.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A