The Smart Cart is the ultimate tool for your physics lab and includes built-in sensors for measuring force, position, velocity, three axes of acceleration, and three axes of rotational velocity. Patent No. 10481173
- 1x Hook
- 1x Rubber bumper
- 1x Magnetic bumper
- 1x USB cable for charging
See the Buying Guide for this item's required, recommended, and additional accessories.
Product Summary
The patented Smart Cart is the ultimate tool for studying kinematics, dynamics, Newton’s Laws, and more. It is based on a durable ABS body with nearly frictionless wheels, just like our high quality PAScars. Now, we’ve added built-in sensors that measure force, position, velocity, and acceleration. The versatile Smart Cart can collect measurements on or off a track and transmit the data wirelessly over Bluetooth. In essence, it is a wireless dynamics cart that combines all the necessary sensors, without requiring any additional hardware.
Smart Carts are ideal for studying mechanics topics, such as kinematics and dynamics. The built-in load cells enable two Smart Carts to visually demonstrate Newton’s Third Law with ease. Additionally, built-in sensors for force and acceleration enable students to investigate Newton’s Second Law in minutes. Smart Carts truly are a physics lab on wheels, and now you can own the most advanced physics cart ever created, all without the restrictions of cables.
Features
- Built-in ±100 N force sensor
- 3-axis accelerometer
- 3-axis rotational velocity sensor
- Bluetooth® connectivity
- Rechargeable battery
- Motion encoder measures position and velocity on or off the track
- Magnetic bumper for force sensor
- 3-position plunger
- Mass tray
- Velcro® tabs
- Force sensor hook and rubber bumper
Applications
- Kinematics
- Newton’s Laws
- Impulse
- Conservation of Momentum
- Elastic and Inelastic Collisions
- Conservation of Energy
- Simple Harmonic Oscillators
- Magnetic damping
- Determining g using acceleration on an incline
- And much more!
What's Included
- 1x Hook
- 1x Rubber bumper
- 1x Magnetic bumper
- 1x USB cable for charging
Product Specifications
Optical Encoder |
|
Accelerometer |
|
Force Sensor |
|
Gyro Sensor |
|
Mass (without accessories) | 250 g |
Patent No. | 10481173 |
Connectivity | USB and Bluetooth 5.2 |
Logging | No |
Battery Type | Rechargeable LiPo |
Battery & Logging
Stored Data Points Memory (Logging) 1 | Not Supported |
Battery - Connected (Data Collection Mode) 2 | Up to 7 hr |
Battery - Logging (Data Logging Mode) 3 | Not Supported |
Battery Type | LiPo |
1 Minimum # of data points with all measurements enabled, actual results depend on enabled measurements.
2 Continuous use in a connected state until battery failure, actual results will depend on sample rate, active measurements, and battery condition.
3 Logging until battery failure, actual results will depend on sample rate, active measurements, and battery condition.
* Normal classroom use is the sensor in active use for 20min/lab for 120 lab periods/yr.
Data Collection Software
This product requires PASCO software for data collection and analysis. We recommend the following option(s). For more information on which is right for your classroom, see our Software Comparison: SPARKvue vs. Capstone »
Connectivity Options
This product can connect directly to your computer or device with the following technologies. No Interface required. See the following guide for details regarding device compatibility: Wireless Bluetooth Product Compatibility »
- Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
- Universal Serial Bus (USB)
Dedicated Datalogging with SPARK LXi2
Consider an all-in-one, touchscreen data collection, graphing, and analysis tool for students. Designed for use with wired and wireless sensors, the SPARK LXi2 Datalogger simultaneously accommodates up to five wireless sensors and includes two ports for blue PASPORT sensors. It features an interactive, icon-based user interface within a shock-absorbing case and arrives packaged with SPARKvue, MatchGraph!, and Spectrometry software for interactive data collection and analysis. It can additionally connect via Bluetooth to the following interfaces: AirLink, SPARKlink Air, and 550 Universal Interface.
Buying Guide
Recommended Accessories | P/N | Price |
---|---|---|
Cart Mass (Set of 2) | ME-6757A | -- |
Smart Ballistic Cart Accessory | ME-1245 | -- |
Smart Cart Vector Display | ME-1246 | -- |
Smart Fan Accessory | ME-1242 | -- |
Smart Cart Rod Stand Adapter | ME-1244 | -- |
Smart Cart Charging Garage | ME-1243 | -- |
Bumper Accessory Set | ME-9884 | -- |
Smart Cart Motor | ME-1247 | -- |
Replacement Parts | P/N | Price |
---|---|---|
Magnetic Bumper Set | ME-9885A | -- |
Micro USB Cable | PS-3584 | -- |
Also Available | P/N | Price |
---|---|---|
Smart Cart (Blue) | ME-1241 | -- |
USB Bluetooth Adapter | PS-3500 | -- |
Product Guides & Articles
Dynamics Cart & Track System Configuration
Dynamics Systems provide an engaging and affordable method for physics educators to teach a variety of complex concepts in Kinematics and Dynamics. We offer a wide range of carts and tracks that make it easy to design your ideal Dynamics System, while staying under budget. In addition to durable equipment, PASCO Dynamics Systems also include access to a wealth of downloadable lab acitivities designed to get students hands-on and experimenting with key physics concepts.
Smart Cart to Vernier Comparison
The Smart Cart may appear to be equivalent to competitors like Vernier’s Go Direct Sensor Cart–they include many of the same features and specifications–but several distinctions set the PASCO Smart Cart apart.
Experiment Library
Perform the following experiments and more with the Smart Cart (Red).
Visit PASCO's Experiment Library to view more activities.
Acceleration on an Inclined Plane
What is the acceleration of an object down an inclined plane? What do the motion graphs of an object down an inclined plane look like? Galileo Galilei used inclined planes for his quantitative experiments into the nature of position,...
Speed and Velocity Graphs
Use a Smart Cart to perform a conceptual exploration of graphs of speed versus velocity.
Coefficients of Friction
Experimentally determine the static and kinetic friction coefficients between two contacting surfaces.
Momentum and Explosions
How is the total momentum of a two-object system affected by an explosion? Experimentally determine if linear momentum is conserved in a system that experiences an explosion.
Work and Kinetic Energy
Students use a Smart Cart and dynamics system to investigate the relationship between the change in kinetic energy of an object experiencing a non-zero net force and the work done by that net force on the object, and then use...
Building Better Barriers
In this investigation, students explore collisions using a PASCO Smart Cart, which records forces during collisions. SPARKvue software is used for data collection and analysis. Students will design their own crash barriers to...
Conservation of Momentum
The law of conservation of momentum is a powerful generalization of Newton’s third law. For an isolated system, the total momentum of all the objects inside is constant.
Acceleration Due to Gravity
The purpose of this lab is to measure the acceleration of a cart moving down an incline, and compare the measured value to the theoretical.
Buoyant Force
Students use the Smart Cart force sensor to measure the buoyant force on a metal cylinder lowered into a fluid and then determine the relationship between the buoyant force on a submerged object and a) its volume and b) the weight...
Momentum and Impulse
Students use a Smart Cart and dynamics system to investigate the relationship between the change in momentum of a cart undergoing a collision and the impulse imparted to the cart to change its momentum, and then use their data...
Newton's First Law
The purpose of this experiment is to determine how external forces influence the motion of a Smart Cart, either by itself, or together with a Friction Block, or tied by a string to masses hanging over a pulley. Analysis of this...
Conservation of Momentum
Elastic and inelastic collisions are performed with two Smart Carts of different masses. Magnetic bumpers are used in the elastic collision and Velcro® bumpers are used in the completely inelastic collision. In both cases, momentum...