1H10.20 - Fan Cart

Summary

This demo showcases Newton's third law using a fan-powered cart. When the fan is turned on, air flows in one direction, causing the cart to move in the opposite direction. With no sail, the cart moves freely. When a sail parallel to the fan is added, the cart doesn't move due to equal and opposite forces. When the sail is angled, part of the force is reflected, causing the cart to move slowly, demonstrating how unbalanced forces affect motion. The demo illustrates Newton's law and how sail orientation impacts cart speed.

Takeaways

• 💡 The demo features a cart with an attached fan, showcasing airflow and motion.
• 🚀 Turning on the fan generates airflow in one direction along the track.
• ⛵ The cart has a sail that can be placed in the airflow stream to study its effect on motion.
• 🔁 Newton's Third Law is demonstrated: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
• 🏎️ Without a sail, the cart moves opposite to the direction of the airflow, confirming the reaction principle.
• 🛑 When the sail is placed parallel to the fan, the forces cancel out, and the cart does not move.
• 📐 Placing the sail at an angle to the fan creates an unbalanced force, causing the cart to move.
• 🐢 The speed of the cart is slower when the sail is angled compared to when there is no sail.
• ⚖️ The angled sail reflects only a fraction of the total force, resulting in reduced motion.
• 🔍 The demo helps to understand the relationship between force direction, sail position, and cart movement.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the fan cart demonstration?

The purpose of the fan cart demonstration is to illustrate Newton's third law of motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

How does the cart move when the fan is turned on without the sail?

When the fan is turned on without the sail, the air flows in one direction, and the cart moves in the opposite direction due to the action and reaction forces.

What happens when a sail is attached to the cart, parallel to the blades of the fan?

When a sail is attached to the cart parallel to the fan blades, the forces are equal and opposite, resulting in no net force on the cart, so the cart does not move.

Why does the cart remain stationary when the sail is parallel to the fan blades?

The cart remains stationary because the action force of the airflow and the reaction force from the sail cancel each other out, creating a net force of zero.

What is the effect of angling the sail relative to the plane of the fan blades?

Angling the sail results in only a fraction of the airflow force being reflected, creating an unbalanced force that causes the cart to move.

How does the movement of the cart change when the sail is angled?

When the sail is angled, the cart still moves, but its speed is slower compared to when there is no sail attached, as only a portion of the airflow is redirected.

Why does the cart move more slowly when the sail is angled?

The cart moves more slowly because only a fraction of the total airflow force is acting on it, reducing the overall force and speed.

What principle is demonstrated when the cart remains stationary with the parallel sail?

This demonstrates the principle of equilibrium, where equal and opposite forces result in no movement.

What is the role of the fan in the demonstration?

The fan generates airflow that creates the action force necessary for the cart to move, illustrating the cause and effect relationship described by Newton's third law.

What can be concluded from the demonstration when the sail is angled?

The conclusion is that angling the sail results in an unbalanced force, which causes movement but at a slower speed, highlighting the importance of force direction and magnitude in motion.