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9 (a) A student investigates the relationship between force and acceleration for a trolley on a runway - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 9 - 2018 - Paper 1
Question 9
9 (a) A student investigates the relationship between force and acceleration for a trolley on a runway. Figure 12 shows some of the apparatus the student uses. (i) ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:9 (a) A student investigates the relationship between force and acceleration for a trolley on a runway - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 9 - 2018 - Paper 1
Step 1
Describe how the student could increase the accelerating force applied to the trolley.
Answer
To increase the accelerating force applied to the trolley, the student could add additional weights to the trolley. This can be achieved by attaching a weight hanger with weights to the trolley, or by inclining the runway to utilize the component of gravitational force, which would enhance the overall force acting on the trolley.
Step 2
Describe how the mass of the moving system can be kept constant.
Answer
The mass of the moving system can be kept constant by ensuring that the mass on the weight hanger remains the same throughout the experiment. This might involve using a specific weight that is not changed or allowing the mass to act directly on the trolley without any additional weights being added or subtracted during the experiment.
Step 3
Explain how the student could improve the procedure to compensate for the effects of frictional forces acting on the trolley.
Answer
To compensate for the effects of frictional forces, the student could raise one end of the runway. This action helps reduce the overall friction experienced by the trolley as it rolls. Additionally, using lubricants on the surface of the runway or employing low-friction wheels will minimize the frictional force affecting the trolley's motion, allowing for a more accurate measurement of the relationship between force and acceleration.
Step 4
Explain how momentum is conserved in the collision.
Answer
Momentum is conserved in the collision because the total momentum before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision. According to Newton's third law, the forces exerted by the two objects during the collision are equal and opposite, resulting in no net external force acting on the system. Thus, using Newton's second law, we can express the momentum change:
ext{Force} = rac{ ext{change in momentum}}{ ext{time}}
This dictates that any changes in momentum during the collision must balance out, preserving total momentum.