Question Constellation Sign up for free AQA · GCSE · Combined Science · Higher
Preventing mass-holder contact in a glider practical
A student investigated acceleration using gliders, an air track and light gates. In the apparatus, a glider and card are pulled along an air track by a string over a bench pulley attached to a mass holder. The card passes through two light gates.
The mass holder should not hit the ground before the card passes through the second light gate.
Suggest one way that the student could stop this happening.
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Marking points
- 1 Suggest moving the second light gate closer to the first light gate.
- 2 Or suggest shortening the string.
- 3 Or suggest using a taller table so the mass holder has farther to fall.
Full-mark answer
Move the second light gate closer to the first light gate.
Why this answer loses marks
Move the light gates further apart.
This would make the card take longer to reach the second light gate, so the mass holder would be even more likely to hit the ground first.