Conservation of Energy & Dissipative Forces

In this lab we will investigate conservation of energy with spring, energy, and friction systems then see what
happens when dissipative forces are included in energy problems.
As you already know, energy and work are closely related: when something possesses energy it can do work
and conversely, no work can be performed without energy. You probably also remember that energy cannot be
created or destroyed it just changes forms. In other words, it is conserved. When energy is conserved, the
energy before equals the energy after.
Ebefore = Eafter

1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
mvbefore
+ mghbefore + ksbefore
= mvafter
+ mghafter + ksafter
2
2
2
2
Total conservative energy includes both kinetic and potential so:
E = mv2(if its moving) + mgy (for change in height) + k(s)2 (for springs)
You probably noticed this didnt take friction into consideration. Friction is one of the most obvious
nonconservative forces. What does this mean? Some of the energy is lost, or dissipated and the energy
equation looks like:
Ebefore > Eafter and the difference between the two is the dissipative force.
Energy equations often contain nonconservative forces (dissipative forces) and need to be included. The total
energy equation now looks like:
E = mv2 + mgh + k(s-s0)2 + Wdissipative
Nonconservative forces do work which is lost. You might think of heat given off from friction when
considering how work is lost. The work isnt really lost but rather changes form.
Wdissipative = Ffriction * d = mg * (x-x0)
Wdissipative = Q = mass * c * T
c = 125 J/ kg C = specific heat

(work from friction)

(work from heat)

Part 1. Spring system with no dissipative forces:

a) Set up a spring suspended from a stand with a small mass attached. Place a small weight on the spring and
record how far the spring descends without oscillating. With the gravitational force balancing the spring force,
write:
k* (y-yo) = mg;

solve for the spring constant, k

m = _____.05kg_______
y = __.38m__________ yo = _____.11m__________k = _______1.817_____
(total energy = kinetic+potential+spring)
(1/2)mv^2 + mgh + (1/2)k(delta s)^2
b) Place a motion detector beneath the mass and set the spring and mass into oscillation. Use the motion sensor
(LoggerPro probes and sensors motion sensor motion detector) for this experiment. Print out the three
graphs: position, velocity, and acceleration, then record three different time data sets for position and velocity
(one of those sets must be a time when velocity = 0).
Time (s)
1

height from graph (m)

Velocity (m/s)

2
3

c) Determine displacement: from the position graph, find the maximum and minimum value then determine
the equilibrium using this: Equilibrium = (max min) / 2
For each position, calculate displacement by finding the difference between the position (from height graph)
and equilibrium, square it, then enter the number in the (s)2 column below.
d) Compare energy before and after for the different spring positions
E = mv2 + mgh + ks2
Run

Mass
(kg)

v (m/s)

v2 (m2/s2)

Gravity
(m/s2)

E1
E2
E3
e) Calculate the percent difference between the runs
% difference
(E1-E2)/E1 * 100
(E2-E3)/E2 * 100
(E1-E3)/E1 * 100

Height
(m)

(s)2
(m2)

Total Energy
(J)

Part 2. Heat dissipation:

Using the motion detector, observe several bounces of a basketball. For three consecutive bounces, record the
loss in height after each bounce and calculate how much energy was lost in the bounce.
Bounce

Height
(m)

mass*gravity*height energy

Energy
difference

%
difference

1
2

Between
1&2
Between
2&3
Between
1&3

Using W = Q, calculate the change of temperature after each bounce. Remember the energy left over from
state 1 to state 2 (energy difference) is the nonconservative work force.
Energy
difference
(kg*m2/s2)

Mass
basketball
(kg)