Conservation of Energy Lab
Partners: Madeline Walbert and Maeann Brougher
Date: 1/14/15
Purpose: In this lab, we will investigate the Law of Conservation of Energy and determine the spring constant of a spring.
Theory:
Date: 1/14/15
Purpose: In this lab, we will investigate the Law of Conservation of Energy and determine the spring constant of a spring.
Theory:
The Law of Conservation of Mass states that energy cannot be created nor destroyed, but is instead transferred from one form to another. This lab investigates this concept through compressing a spring and its transfer from elastic energy to kinetic energy. In theory, the two energy's equal each other.
Variables used: KE= Kinetic Energy EE= Elastic Energy k= Spring Constant x= Spring Compression m= Mass v= Velocity PerDif= Percent Difference exp1= Experiment 1 exp2= Experiment 2 |
Experimental Technique:
After the plane was set up to launch, the first step was to take position and force measurements. By using the measuring tape along the plane, five different positions were measured when pulled closer and closer to the spring, compressing it, and using a force sensor through Data Studio to measure the five forces needed to pull it. With these points, a Position (x-axis) Vs. Force (y-value) was created. A linear trendline was set and the slope of this line is the k-value, or the spring constant.
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In order to calculate the velocity, x had to be found. To find x, the position of where the block started and the position of where the block was released from were subtracted, giving the compression value. Mass was also measured using a digital scale. After solving for v in the equation EE=KE, the known values were plugged in to find velocity. Data Studio and 2 photo gates were used to find the other velocity value, which were then compared using the percent difference equation.
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Data and Analysis:
Conclusion:
In conclusion, this lab was a success but there is always room for improvement. When I calculated the velocity using the equation, 3 decimal places were used but I could have used more to be even more accurate. There is also measurement error when getting the position values since the last decimal place is an educated guess. When measuring the force values, the numbers were jumping around on Data Studio and one of those values had to be chosen. It wasn't a set value, so there was error in the value we chose for the forces. The graph made was also not completely linear, so the k constant value is not completely accurate. In order to try to fix these errors, the force sensor could have been held more still and secure in order for the value to show up as unwavering on Data Studio. This would in turn result in more accurate force values which would form a more accurate graph which would form a more linear trendline, improving the k constant value.
References:
Bowman, D. (n.d.). Lahs Physics. Lahs Physics. Retrieved December 17, 2014, from http://lahsphysics.weebly.com/
Giancoli, D. (1998). Physics: Principles with applications (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall.
In conclusion, this lab was a success but there is always room for improvement. When I calculated the velocity using the equation, 3 decimal places were used but I could have used more to be even more accurate. There is also measurement error when getting the position values since the last decimal place is an educated guess. When measuring the force values, the numbers were jumping around on Data Studio and one of those values had to be chosen. It wasn't a set value, so there was error in the value we chose for the forces. The graph made was also not completely linear, so the k constant value is not completely accurate. In order to try to fix these errors, the force sensor could have been held more still and secure in order for the value to show up as unwavering on Data Studio. This would in turn result in more accurate force values which would form a more accurate graph which would form a more linear trendline, improving the k constant value.
References:
Bowman, D. (n.d.). Lahs Physics. Lahs Physics. Retrieved December 17, 2014, from http://lahsphysics.weebly.com/
Giancoli, D. (1998). Physics: Principles with applications (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall.