Download Bouncing Ball Potential Energy Lab

Integrated Science 2014
Ball Bounce Lab – Where Physics Meets Chemistry
Name_______________
In the chemistry unit, we learned that matter cannot be created or destroyed. It turns out that
energy cannot be created or destroyed either. However, it can be transformed.
• Energy Transformation:
o Example 1: Chemical energy in gasoline, can be transformed into the mechanical
energy that makes a car go.
o Example 2: Nuclear energy can produce heat energy. This heat energy boils
water into steam and this steam spins a turbine (mechanical energy) that
generates electrical energy.
Two broad categories of energy are Kinetic and Potential energy.
• Kinetic energy is the energy of a body related to its movement.
o AKA energy of motion.
o The kinetic energy of an object is relative to the state of other objects in its
environment.
o Kinetic energy (KE) = ½ mv2
• Potential energy is the energy of a body as it relates to its position or state.
o
o
o
o
AKA stored energy.
Potential energy is completely independent of its environment.
Due to gravity, potential energy changes as the height of an object changes, this is
called gravitational potential energy.
Potential Energy (PE) = mgh
Pre-Lab Questions
Using your textbook [pages 391 – 399] and the explanations above, answer the following
questions.
1. Explain the difference between potential and kinetic energy.
2. Gravitational potential energy depends on both _____________ & ______________.
3. Kinetic energy depends on _________________ & ______________________.
4. Draw a diagram of a bouncing ball. Label potential and kinetic energy.
5. What is meant by the term energy transformation?
6. Describe how energy transformations explain a bouncing ball.
O’Ryan
Integrated Science 2014
Purpose: To determine the relationship between drop height and gravitational potential energy
of various bouncing materials. .
Procedure:
Materials: 3 balls (*one student made), meter stick, electronic balance, graph paper.
*Use the polymer ball directions to make this ball.
1. Tape the meter stick to the side of the lab bench with 100 cm on top.
2. Choose your first test ball and record the type above the first data table.
3. Use the electronic balance to measure and record the mass of the ball.
4. Covert the mass from grams to kilograms. (Hint: There are 1000 grams in a kilogram.)
5. Calculate the gravitational potential energy (GPE) for the ball at each drop height.
6. For Trial 1, hold the ball at a height of 50 cm, drop the ball carefully and observe the
bounce height. Record the bounce height in the data table.
7. Drop the ball 4 more times from 50 cm, recording the bounce height each time, for a total
of 5 drops.
8. For Trials 2-7, repeat steps 5 and 6 but drop the ball from the height indicated in
the data table. Record the 5 bounce heights in the data table.
9. Repeat steps 2 through 7 for a different type of ball.
10. Calculate the average bounce height of the 5 drops for each drop height. Record the
average bounce height in the data table. Calculate the average bounce height for all
Trials. (To calculate average: Add the 5 bounce heights for a trial then divide the total
by 5 drops.)
Data
Ball Type:
Drop
Height
(m)
0.50
0.60
0.70
0.80
0.90
1.00
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Ball mass (kg):
GPE
(J)
Drop 1
Drop 2
Bounce Height (m)
Drop 3
Drop 4
Drop 5
Average
Integrated Science 2014
Ball Type:
Drop
Height
(m)
0.50
0.60
0.70
0.80
0.90
1.00
Ball mass (kg):
GPE
(J)
Drop 1
Ball Type:
Drop
Height
(m)
0.50
0.60
0.70
0.80
0.90
1.00
Drop 2
Bounce Height (m)
Drop 3
Drop 4
Ball mass (kg):
GPE
(J)
Drop 1
Drop 2
_____________
Drop 5
Average
_____________
Bounce Height (m)
Drop 3
Drop 4
Drop 5
Average
Conclusion [Answer on a separate sheet of paper.]
1. We actually conducted two experiments in this lab. Describe the experiment and
Identify the manipulated and responding variables for each.
2 . Graph the average bounce heights for all three balls. Place the manipulated variable
(drop height) on the x-axis and place the responding variable (bounce height) on the yaxis. Use different colors to represent the ball types. Don’t forget to label the graph
and make a key!
2. In 5 – 8 sentences, describe the relationship between drop height and bounce
height. Was the relationship the same for both ball types that you tested?
3. Compare your gravitational potential energy to your bounce height for each trial.
Describe the relationship between GPE and bounce height.
4. Look at the results of both ball types you tested.
a. Which ball type had the most gravitational potential energy?
b. Which ball type has the most mass?
c. Describe the relationship between mass and GPE.
5. What are the variables that affect gravitational potential energy of an object?
O’Ryan