PIRA 1H10.10 Action and Reaction: Push Me/Pull Me Carts

• Demonstration includes two massive skateboards, a rope and a medicine ball.

• Demonstration provides an excellent opportunity for student participation

• The first variation of the demo has two students on two carts separated by about 10 ft..

• Have two students stand on the carts and grasp the ends of the rope.
  

• Have only one student at a time pull on the rope. Observe that they both move.

• A second variation is two have both carts together and have one student push off a second student.

• A third variation is two have the carts close together and have the two students throw the ball to each other.

Photo Shows the Demo Carts Used by the University of Texas at Austin.

Drawing is by Courtesy of the University of Minnesota.

Last Updated 2/98 - University of Texas at Austin Physics Dept. - All Rights Reserved.