travel toys in car image
Jorja
I am doing a science experiment and have to do background information (scientific theories/principles that are relevant) on whether the weight of a toy car affects the time it takes to travel down a slope. I don't really know what that means. I have already done the experiment and the heavier the car the faster it will travel. But I don't know how to find the relevant theories or principles for that. Thank you.
Answer
so here is the deal.
When we look at energy for an object falling or on a ramp (it doesn't matter), we can always predict the speed and energy at the bottom. We use this equation to model it:
1/2mv^2(i) + mgh(i) = 1/2mv^2(f) + mgh(f) where i is just initial energy and f is final.
So notice something. Every mass here cancels and if your track were frictionless, weight will have NO effect on the speed of the car on the way down. NO EFFECT! VERY IMPORANT CONCEPT!
However, in the real world, we have something called friction which you saw in your experiment. That is the only reason your car was slower. But, if the car was rolling down the hill, friction should have been a minimum and your cars should have all reach the bottom at the exact same time. Mass has nothing to do with it. If you drop a car down with 100kg vs. 1 kg, they should hit the bottom in the same time. So you timed incorrectly, most likely by human error if you were using a stopwatch.
investigate the energy equations.
so here is the deal.
When we look at energy for an object falling or on a ramp (it doesn't matter), we can always predict the speed and energy at the bottom. We use this equation to model it:
1/2mv^2(i) + mgh(i) = 1/2mv^2(f) + mgh(f) where i is just initial energy and f is final.
So notice something. Every mass here cancels and if your track were frictionless, weight will have NO effect on the speed of the car on the way down. NO EFFECT! VERY IMPORANT CONCEPT!
However, in the real world, we have something called friction which you saw in your experiment. That is the only reason your car was slower. But, if the car was rolling down the hill, friction should have been a minimum and your cars should have all reach the bottom at the exact same time. Mass has nothing to do with it. If you drop a car down with 100kg vs. 1 kg, they should hit the bottom in the same time. So you timed incorrectly, most likely by human error if you were using a stopwatch.
investigate the energy equations.
What causes a toy car to turn when you push it across a flat surface?
no!ng
I was just playing with a toy car of mine. The wheels don't turn on the car, but whenever I pushed it across the kitchen counter, it also turned to the left or the right. Why doesn't it ever go straight?
Answer
i had a similar problem while building a mousetrap car.
the wheels always remain straight, the the car turns.
i found that the problem was because one of the axles of the car was not level with the chassis of the car itself. this was causing more weight to be on one side of the car.
i know its hard to imagine, but if there is more weight on...lets say the left side of the car... it will raise the coefficient of friction on that side essentially making that wheel(s) on that side spin slower. if the left wheels are spinning slower than the right wheels, the right wheels will travel farther, making the car turn.
i had a similar problem while building a mousetrap car.
the wheels always remain straight, the the car turns.
i found that the problem was because one of the axles of the car was not level with the chassis of the car itself. this was causing more weight to be on one side of the car.
i know its hard to imagine, but if there is more weight on...lets say the left side of the car... it will raise the coefficient of friction on that side essentially making that wheel(s) on that side spin slower. if the left wheels are spinning slower than the right wheels, the right wheels will travel farther, making the car turn.
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