Click on a region in the image of the default applet display below to read a description of the corresponding feature:
Slide a 0.100 kg box of crayons down an inclined plane 2.00 m in length.
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| This option allows you to view (when checked) or hide (when unchecked) a free body diagram. By default, this option is unchecked. In the free body diagram, weight is represented by a green vector, normal force by a blue vector, and frictional force by a red vector. The free body diagram can be moved by clicking and holding the left mouse button over the centre of the free body diagram and dragging it to a new position. |
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| This option allows you to view (when checked) or hide (when unchecked) the components of the weight vector in the free body diagram. This option is active only after "Show FBD" has been checked. By default, this option is unchecked. |
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| This option allows you to activate (when checked) or deactivate (when unchecked) the Data control button (see below for more details). On a slower computer, data collection can make the animation appear "choppy". If you wish to improve the appearance of the animation, you can deselect this option. By default, this option is checked. |
Continuous updates on the normal force, weight, and x- and y-components of the weight acting on the mass all are displayed here.
Clicking the minimize arrow (
)
will hide the data display panel. The button will switch to a maximize arrow
(
)
- clicking this will show the data display panel once again.
You can adjust slider settings by either dragging the slider tab to the right (increase) or left (decrease), clicking to the right or left of the slider tab for fine adjustments, or entering an exact value in the data entry field that can be opened by clicking on the Data Entry button to the left of the slider.
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| Ramp Angle - This slider adjusts the ramp angle between a minimum of 0.00° and a maximum of 90.00° in increments of 0.01°. |
The applet is controlled by the following buttons.
| Icon | Name | Description |
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Rewind | Run the applet again from the start without changing any settings. |
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Play | Start sliding the mass down the inclined plane. Once pressed, this button changes into a pause button. |
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Pause | Pause the mass. Once pressed, this button changes into a play button. |
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Data | Collect data as the applet is running. Data collected may include: time, kinetic energy, potential energy, height, velocity, mechanical energy, displacement, distance, and work. Data collected is saved to the clipboard and can be exported to other applications. |
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Graph | Open the Graph Display, which allows you to analyze the motion and energy of the object on the inclined plane. Use of the Graph Display is addressed in detail in the associated Show Me and Lesson files - please refer to these documents for more information. |
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Reset | Clear all settings and start the applet over from its default state. |
Clicking the minimize arrow ()
will hide the data entry and control button panels. The button will switch to
a maximize arrow ()
- clicking this will show the data entry and control button panels once again.
| The applet also can be controlled with a drop-down menu, or with keyboard shortcuts. Right-click anywhere in the display panel - a menu will appear, just like the one below. All of the buttons are listed, along with their respective keyboard shortcuts. |
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Physics 20-30 v1.0
©2004 Alberta Learning (www.learnalberta.ca)
Last Updated: June 16, 2004