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

Photo shows the demonstration used by the University of Texas at Austin.

• Demonstration includes two large skateboards, an 8 foot rope and a 15 lb medicine ball.

• This demonstration provides an excellent opportunity for student participation

• The first variation of the demo has two students on two carts separated by about 6 to 8 feet.
• Have the two students stand or kneel 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 medicine ball to each other.

Video shows the use of a rope with one of the two persons pulling on the rope.

Last Updated 7/24 - University of Texas at Austin Physics Dept. - All Rights Reserved.