Transformation of Mechanical Energy

A Laboratory Report
Presented to:
Dr. Maria Cecilia D. Glavez
Department of Physics
De La Salle University-Manila



In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements of the Course
LBYENVP A63A



By:
Kaira L. Sy
February 20, 2013

I. Introduction
Background I nformation, Theories and Concepts
The energy acquired by the objects upon which work is done is known as mechanical
energy (ME). Mechanical energy is the energy that is possessed by an object due to its motion or
due to its position. Mechanical energy can be either kinetic energy (energy of motion) or
potential energy (stored energy of position). Objects have mechanical energy if they are in
motion and/or if they are at some position relative to a zero potential energy position (for
example, a brick held at a vertical position above the ground or zero height position). A moving
car possesses mechanical energy due to its motion (kinetic energy). A moving baseball possesses
mechanical energy due to both its high speed (kinetic energy) and its vertical position above the
ground (gravitational potential energy). A barbell lifted high above a weightlifter's head
possesses mechanical energy due to its vertical position above the ground (gravitational potential
energy). A drawn bow possesses mechanical energy due to its stretched position (elastic potential
energy).
Objectives
The objectives of the activity is:
inclined plane.

increasing the release height of the cart keeping the mass of the cart constant.
is affected by
mass of the cart keeping the height constant.
conserved.



Hypothesis

The higher the incline, the faster the acceleration of the cart and more kinetic energy is used. The
lower the incline, the slower the acceleration of the cart and potential energy is more evident.

II. Method

In this activity, the cart is placed 20 cm from the position sensor and released from rest as
shown in figure 1. The position sensor is attached to Spark Vue and as the cart moves along the
track, its position, velocity, and acceleration is recorded. Data acquisition is stopped just before
the cart reached the bumper. From the initial and final positions and the constant acceleration,
the PE and KE of the cart can be calculated. The experiment will have two parts. The first part
involves increasing the release height while maintaining a constant mass of the dynamic cart,
where as the second part involves increasing the mass of the cart while maintaining a constant
release height.






III. Materials Used & Experimental Set up

1. The Cart
2. Iron Stand
3. Position Sensor
4. Cart Stopper
5. Dynamic Track
6. Spark Vue




IV. Data

Observations in a Data Table or Chart

Graph:


The lower the incline, the longer the time it takes for the cart to reach the end.

Charts:






Calculation
The computer made the calculation automatically as the graph was made.








V. Analysis

When the cart is going down new energy, kinetic energy, it created right before the cart
hits the ground. Then there is a loss of energy, potential energy, when the cart hits the ground.
The cart also has mechanical energy as it rolls down the hill. This also has rolling friction, and
motion. Rolling friction occurs when the cart rolls down the ramp and on the floor.

It has motion from the minute it is acted upon by an unbalanced force. In this case it's
related to Newton's 1st law. When the kart is in motion, it gains speed. But then, it also has
acceleration as it is released and goes down the ramp, because it gains speed. This also gives it
momentum, because the cart gains speed, which also gains momentum. There is also air
resistance, which can also be fluid friction, because air resistance is, the fluid friction
experienced by objects falling through the air. In this case as the cart gains speed and
momentum, then goes down the ramp. Whenever there is motion, that object has speed and has
been acted upon by an unbalanced force.

Newton's 2nd law, Acceleration depends on the object's mass and on the net force acting
on the object. When the cart goes down the ramp, gravity makes the kart speed up. The higher
the ramp is put, the greater its speed becomes by the time it reaches the bottom of the ramp.
Newton's 3rd law, if one object exerts a force on another object, then the second object exerts a
force of equal strength in the opposite direction on the first object. Since the cart is on a ramp the
ramp has to support the weight of the cart. If the wheels stop the cart from going off course too
much, then by exerting a controlling force, the cart will stay on the track until acted upon by an
unbalanced force.

VI. Conclusion

To conclude the experiment, the relationship of kinetic energy and potential energy
with the total mechanical energy is that the sum of kinetic energy plus potential energy is
equal to the total Mechanical Energy.
Reflecting to the experiment, Mechanical energy is always evident. As we have
defined it as the sum of the two basic energies. Results may change prior to the external
energy acting upon the object.

VII. Discussion Questions

1. What kind of energy did the cart have at its released point?
Potential Energy
2. How did the cart obtain that energy?
The cart obtained the energy due to its position, also because it was at rest.
3. What kind of energy/energies did the cart have as it was rolling down the ramp?
Kinetic Energy
4. What happens to the velocity of the cart as it slides down the incline plane? How
does this affect the kinetic energy of the cart? How about its potential energy?
The velocity of the cart increases as it slides down the incline plane. Kinetic
energy increases, as the direction of the cart is linear. There is no Potential
energy until the cart stops at the end.
5. As the height of the ramp increases, what happened to:
a. The acceleration of the cart?
As the height of the ramp increases, the acceleration increases also.
b. The initial potential energy of the cart?
Zero
c. The final kinetic energy of the cart?
The kinetic energy also increases. Driven from the formula:
6. Based from your data,
a. What are the initial mechanical energy and the final mechanical energy of the cart?
The initial mechanical energy always has a value and can never be zero. Even
when it is stationary at one place or in motion in another, an amount is always
existent. The final mechanical energy of the cart depends on how steep the
incline is. The higher the incline the higher the amount of the mechanical
energy, the lower the incline, the lower the amount of mechanical energy.



b. How do the values of the initial mechanical energy and final mechanical compare to
the the initial potential energy and final kinetic energy?
The only difference between the two is the initial energy. Since the initial
potential energy is zero, it differs with the result of the initial mechanical
energy. Also in other cases, if external forces influences the movement of the
cart the result of work done or mechanical energy may change prior to what
has happened.

7. How does this experiment demonstrate the transformation of Mechanical energy?
Mechanical energy is the energy that is possessed by an object due to its motion or
due to its position. Mechanical energy can be either kinetic energy (energy of
motion) or potential energy (stored energy of position). Objects have mechanical
energy if they are in motion and/or if they are at some position relative to a zero
potential energy position. In this case, the moving cart possesses mechanical energy
because of its motion (kinetic energy). The transformation of the energy occurs
when the cart is at rest from potential energy, moves down the incline in motion to
kinetic energy.


VIII. References

http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/energy/u5l2bb.cfm

http://www.lightandmatter.com/html_books/me/ch13/ch13.html

http://www.physicsclassroom.com/mmedia/energy/ie.cfm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_energy