Driven Mechanical Resonance with a Pasco Dynamics Cart

PIRA 3A60.20

Mechanical resonance is easily demonstrated with a Pasco Dynamics Cart, Track, and Variable speed driver, as shown above.  Two identical springs attach the cart to the driver and to a fixed support.  The driver requires a 0 - 12 V variable DC power source.  Be sure to level the track with a spirit level.  Cart mass can be used to vary the resonant frequency.  The weights shown above fit snugly on top of the cart to exactly double, and triple, the cart mass.  If the springs are too loose, so that they are slack part of the time, the resonant frequency will be off the predicted value.