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Accelerometer On Inclined Plane

Purpose

To illustrate the behavior of a liquid accelerometer accelerating down an inclined plane.

Equipment

Accelerometer with incline, as photographed.◙

Suggestions

Ask your students to vote on what will happen before performing the experiment: Will the water move toward the front (downhill), move toward the rear (as in the flat case), or line up parallel to the incline?

Images

c4-12

Description

When the liquid accelerometer is accelerated, the liquid moves in the direction opposite to the acceleration, because of its inertia. When it is held motionless on an incline, the liquid moves toward the downhill side. Q: What wil l happen to the liquid when the accelerometer is allowed to accelerate down the incline? A: It will line up with the surface of the water parallel to the inclined plane.

References

Advertisement for R Value's Roach Kill, an antifungal agent to be mixed into the water in the accelerometer.