Acceleration decrease on inclined air track

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the unexpected downward trend in acceleration of a cart on a 7° inclined air track, despite increasing velocity. The user employs the equations v = (2x)/t for velocity and a = (2x)/(t^2) for acceleration. The downward trend in acceleration suggests the influence of air resistance, which is not accounted for in the user's calculations. This indicates a need for a more comprehensive analysis of forces acting on the cart.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newton's laws of motion
  • Familiarity with kinematic equations
  • Basic knowledge of forces, including friction and air resistance
  • Experience with graphing acceleration versus time
NEXT STEPS
  • Investigate the effects of air resistance on inclined planes
  • Learn about the concept of terminal velocity in relation to inclined motion
  • Explore advanced kinematic equations for varying forces
  • Conduct experiments to measure air resistance on different inclines
USEFUL FOR

Physics students, educators, and anyone studying motion dynamics, particularly those interested in the effects of forces on acceleration in inclined systems.

kiyoshi7
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Hello, I have a cart going down an air track with an inclination of 7 ° and for some reason my acceleration is going on a downward trend, my velocity is increasing and naturally so is the time. to find velocity I'm using v = (2x)/t and for acceleration I'm using a = (2x) / (t^2). Can you tell mr what I'm doing wrong or what I'm missing?

I'm sorry if I'm not being clear if you want I can put the data up for you guys to see.

Thank you for your help.
 
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kiyoshi7 said:
Hello, I have a cart going down an air track with an inclination of 7 ° and for some reason my acceleration is going on a downward trend, my velocity is increasing and naturally so is the time.

So you are plotting acceleration versus time, expecting it to be constant and finding that instead it is trending downward. What result would you expect if air resistance were non-negligible?
 

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