1H10.20 Newton’s Sailboat

1H10.20 Newton’s Sailboat

A battery powered fan and sail can be mounted on a dynamics cart. Two cases are demonstrated: 1) sail attached, fan not attached; 2) both sail and fan attached.

A battery-powered fan is clamped to a cart that rides on a smooth track. Wind from the fan will run parallel to the direction of the track. The small switch that runs the fan is clearly visible at the back of the fan.

A battery-powered fan clamps to a cart that rides on a smooth track. A large aluminum sail is fixed at an angle in front of the cart. The fan is oriented so that wind from the fan will blow in the direction of motion of the cart. The flat face of the sail is perpendicular to the direction of motion of the cart. The sail is inclined so that is top is closer to the fan than the bottom.

Cart, fan, sail: B4-3; Track: end of wall A