Download Conservation of Energy Lab

Conservation of Energy Challenge #1
Challenge: Your task is to determine the amount of elastic potential energy stored in a toy “popper” using the law of conservation
of energy. Since we do not have an equation for elastic potential energy in a popper, we must find another method. The only
equipment available to you is a meter stick, a balance, and a calculator.
Energy Transfer:
Explain what energy is involved (Ug, KE, Uel, ET)and the transfer of energy for the following scenarios. Each scenario shows a
different location in the popper’s movement.
Just before release
Just after release
At Max Height
Halfway between max height
and ground.
Procedure:
Write a detailed procedure (step-by-step) for how you determined the elastic potential energy stored in your popper. Include all
measurements you take, list the equations you use, and show the work involved for your analysis making sure to show all
calculations clearly. Note: You must run multiple trials since there is a lot of error involved.
Questions:
1. Based on your results, how much elastic potential energy was stored in the popper before it was released?
2. How much kinetic energy did the popper have just after being released?
3. What is the popper’s initial velocity as it leaves the ground?
4. What is the poppers velocity halfway between maximum height and the ground?
5. Explain the error involved in this challenge.
Conservation of Energy Challenge 2
Challenge: Your task is to determine the velocity of the pendulum bob at the bottom of its swing using the law of conservation of
energy. You can use any of the equipment we have available.
Energy Transfer:
Explain what energy is involved (Ug, KE, Uel, ET) and the transfer of energy for the following scenarios. Each scenario shows a
different location in the pendulum’s movement.
Just before release
Halfway down
At lowest position
Procedure:
Write a detailed procedure (paragraph) for how you determined the velocity of the pendulum bob. Include all measurements you
take, list the equations you use, and show the work involved for your analysis making sure to show all calculations clearly. Bonus:
measure the velocity of the pendulum bob!
Questions:
1. Based on your results, how much potential energy was stored in the pendulum bob before it was released?
2. How much kinetic energy did the pendulum bob have at the bottom? (ideally & actual – then find % error if you did the
bonus)
3. What is the bob’s velocity at the bottom? (ideally & actual – then find % error- if you did the bonus)
4. What is the poppers velocity halfway between maximum height and the ground? (Ideal)
5. Explain the sources of error involved in this challenge.