PIRA 1M40.40 - Conservation of Energy: Pasco Ballistic Pendulum
Photo Shows the Demonstration Used at U.T. Austin.
Instructions / Notes:
- As of February 2018 - only a small Pasco ballistic pendulum apparatus is available.
- A ~250 gram block is suspended by 30 cm rod so that it will swing freely
when it is shot by a ~76 gram steel ball.
- The steel must be carefully inserted into the Pasco firing mechanism with a provided rod for this to work.
- As the ball is inserted, a firm steady force is used to compress a spring within the ballistic launcher.
Once the ball is loaded, the pointer for the protractor must be moved downward <-- Before shooting the steel ball.
- As the block swings, it slides a pointer along a protractor.
- The steel ball works best - but a much lighter plastic ball is provide, even though it more difficult to load.
- Pull the string attached to a lever to fire the launcher.
Video Below Shows the Older Version that was in use by the UT Austin Physics Lecture Demonstration Office until the end 2017.