Air Track Demonstrations

Use a low-friction air track and gliders to demonstrate core kinematics and dynamics ideas including uniform motion, acceleration, momentum, and collisions.

• Refer to links below for demonstrations involving the air track.

Physics Experiments with an Air Track - John Kielkopf:

Linear Air Track - Physics Lab Motion - Physics Rox by Ms Hoo:

📄 Air Track - Science First: https://sciencefirst.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/EA-01-Air-Track-Instructions.pdf

• Elastic and inelastic collisions using spring bumpers vs hook-and-loop to compare momentum and energy changes.
• Atwood-style setup with the end pulley and hanging mass to study acceleration and Newton’s second law.
• Inclined plane by raising one end with riser blocks to explore constant acceleration down a small angle.
• Mass dependence by adding rider masses to gliders and measuring resulting accelerations or post-collision speeds.
• Multi-method velocity checks using photogates, strobe photos, or spark timers for technique comparison.

• Keep hands, sleeves, and cables clear of the track while gliders are moving.
• Do not overpressurize the air supply; use only the recommended range and secure all hoses to prevent sudden disconnection.
• Ensure springs, bumpers, and screws are firmly attached so parts cannot become projectiles.
• Place the track on a stable, level surface away from table edges to prevent falls.

• Why does a glider maintain nearly constant speed on the air track after an initial push? (Because friction is greatly reduced, so net horizontal force is close to zero, implying nearly constant velocity.)
• How can two different methods give the same acceleration value for an inclined setup? (Because acceleration is a property of the motion; whether computed from geometry and masses or measured from distance-time data, both should agree within experimental error.)
• In an inelastic collision where two gliders stick together, what is conserved and what is not? (Linear momentum is conserved; kinetic energy decreases due to transformation into other forms.)
• How does adding mass to a glider change its motion under the same pulling force? (Acceleration decreases according to a = F/m, assuming the same net external force.)