EXPERIMENT 3:

CONSERVATION OF ENERGY

OBJECTIVE:
To analyze the conservation of energy during free fall of different balls from the same height.
SCOPE:
The law of conservation of energy can be seen in these everyday examples of energy
transference: Water can produce electricity. Waterfalls from the sky, converting potential energy
to kinetic energy. The cue ball loses energy because the energy it had has been transferred to the
8 ball, so the cue ball slows down. You can also observe the conservation of energy in sports.
THEORETICAL EXPLANATION:
The principle of conservation of energy states that the total amount of energy remains the same
in such conversions, i.e. energy cannot be created or destroyed. In mechanics, the potential
energy possessed by a body is frequently converted into kinetic energy, and vice versa. When
you throw the ball upward its potential energy starts to increase at the same time kinetic energy
starts decreasing, when the ball reaches the maximum height its potential energy becomes
maximum, and kinetic energy becomes zero. Then kinetic energy starts increasing while
potential energy starts decreasing when the ball is coming back after reaching the ground kinetic
energy becomes maximum.
APPARATUS:
 Motion Sensor  Discover Freefall System  Large Rod Base  120 cm Rod  Multi Clamp, 45
cm Rod  Motion Sensor Guard  850 Universal Interface  PASCO Capstone, Mass Balance
PROCEDURE:
First of all, set up the apparatus as shown in the figure.
  Adjust the height of the ball to 85cm.
 Connect the devices with the interface and connect the interface with the computer.
 Set the motion sensor at 90⸰.
 Place the ball with the dropbox and adjust the motion sensor guard.
 Open Pasco software in computer and then open conservation of energy experiment. 
Make sure that the control box should be active.
 Click the record button on the computer and at the same time Click the timer switch so
that the ball fall.
 The ball will fall on the motion sensor guard.
 The motion sensor will sense it and recording starts in computer stops.
 We will observe a graph on a desktop.
 Then smooth the graph. Highlight the area where conservation of energy takes place.
 Go to your data summary in Pasco software and rename it as big ball run 1.
 Then delete previous data.
 Take a similar reading with gulf ball also.

OBSERVATION/CALCULATION:

1
𝐾. 𝐸 = mv² ; P.E= mgh
2
K. E 1 2 P. E
= mv ; 𝑚= GH
m 2 m
K. E P. E
Total Energy= +
m m

Observations and Calculations:

Large Ball Mass = 35. 4g
Gulf Ball Mass = 45.8

Height = 85cm (0.85m)

For Large Ball:

Run#1

Min K.E = 0.04 J, Min P.E = 3.70 J, Total Energy = K.E + P.E = 0.04J
+7.21 J=7.25J
Max K.E = 3.35 J, Max P.E = 7.21 J, Total Energy = K.E + P.E = 3.35J +
3.70J=7.05J
 Run#2

Min K.E = 0.11 J, Min P.E = 3.72 J, Total Energy = K.E + P.E = 0.11J +7.25J =
7.36J
Max K.E = 3.36 J, Max P.E = 7.25 J, Total Energy = K.E + P.E = 3.36J
+3.72J = 7.08J

 Run#3

Min K.E = 0.08 J, Min P.E = 3.88 J, Total Energy = K.E + P.E = 0.08J
+7.23J=7.31J
Max K.E = 3.23 J, Max P.E = 7.23 J, Total Energy = K.E + P.E = 3.23J
+3.88J=7.11J

For Golf Ball:

 Run#1

Min K.E = 0.11 J, Min P.E = 3.79 J, Total Energy = K.E + P.E = 0.11J
+7.31J=7.42J
Max K.E = 2.92 J, Max P.E = 7.31 J, Total Energy = K.E + P.E = 2.92J
+3.79J=6.79J
 Run#2

Min K.E = 0.13 J, Min P.E = 3.76 J, Total Energy = K.E + P.E = 0.13J
+7.30J=7.43J
Max K.E = 2.92 J, Max P.E = 7.30 J, Total Energy = K.E + P.E = 3.76J
+2.92J=6.68J

BIG BALL GRAPHS:

Reading:1
 K.E graph P.E graph

Reading:2
Reading:3

K.E graph P.E graph

Golf Ball Graphs:

Reading:1

K.E graphs P.E graph

Reading:2
K.E graph P.E graph

Total Energy of Big ball

Total Energy of Golf ball

QUESTION 2: At which point will be the potential energy and kinetic energy be the same
in a free-falling?
Solution:
Let’s consider,
K.E = P.E
1
m v 2= mgh
2

v 2= 2gh
V =√2gh
Hence at this velocity kinetic energy becomes equal to potential energy.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION:
In this experiment, we calculated the total energy of two different balls in
order to prove the law of conservation of energy in a free-falling body. The minimum potential energy
and maximum potential energy were added and vice versa. 3 runs were taken for the big ball and two runs
were taken for a golf ball. In the first run taken for big balls, we got the total energies as 7.25J and 7.85J.
In the second run, the total energies were calculated as 7.36J and 7.08J. In the third step, the total energies
were calculated as 7.31J and 7.11J. For the golf run the total energies were calculated as 7.42J and
6.79J.In the second step, the total energies were calculated as 7.43J and 6.68J.In the graph, we spotted
that at a point the kinetic energy and potential energy became the same which proved the law of
conservation of energy In this experiment, we observe practical conservation of energy. In this
experiment when the dropbox drops the ball, its potential energy becomes decreases and kinetic
energy starts increasing. So graph 1 shows the graphical representation of the conservation of
energy in a big ball. As we see that when the ball is not dropped its potential energy is constant
and maximum its potential energy starts decreasing when the ball drop. At the same time, kinetic
energy increases so a point reaches when potential energy becomes equal to kinetic energy as
you can see in the graph also. When we add kinetic energy with potential energy we get the total
energy, the line above the potential energy line shows the graphical representation of total
energy. The highlighted area on the graph show conservation of energy.
Similarly in graph 2, we can observe the same pattern. When the small gulf ball drop from the
dropbox, its potential energy decreases, and its kinetic energy increases, and when we add both
energies we get the total energy as shown in graph 2. The highlighted area on the graph show
conservation of energy. as we can see the graph does not start from zero it is due to the motion
sensor guard. When the ball falls it does not directly hit the motion sensor as it may damage the
motion sensor so we use a motion sensor guard which is a little bit high the motion sensor that’s
why kinetic energy does not start from zero. In both graphs, two lines intersect with each other.
This is the point where potential energy becomes equal to kinetic energy. In the graph vertical
ENERGY
axis show MASS and the horizontal axis show time. At V =√2gh, K.E becomes equal
MASS
to P.E. in question 1 its value is 4.0m/s Negative sign with potential energy indicating that it is
decreasing and kinetic energy with a positive sign indicating that it is increasing. The velocity-
time graph will be in a negative direction due to its direction, not its magnitude.
PRECAUTION:
 Sanitize your hand before entering the lab.
 Always wear a mask during the lab.
 Make sure the motion sensor and its guard is in the correct place.
 The motion sensor should be at 90 degrees.
 Delete the previous data before taking another reading.
 Smooth the graph before going to save.
 Place the motion sensor carefully.
 In order for readings to be accurate, the Pasco system should be dealt with carefully.
 The equipment is sensitive so keep it with full care.
 Take measurements accurately for correct answers

COMMENTS:
In this experiment, we learn a lot of things. We observe the conservation of energy. We observe
that how potential energy converts into kinetic energy through graphs. We drop the ball from the
height of 85cm and we got our desired result and we observe the conversion of energy during a
K. E 1 P. E
free fall of different balls. = m v 2; = gh This is the equation that is updated in
m 2 m
K. E P. E
software and the software gives us the graph on desktop. Total Energy= m +. Against
m m
from this formula, we get the total energy and the software also gives us a graph of total energy
because this equation is updated in the software. At V =√2gh, K.E become equal to P.E Hence at
this velocity kinetic energy become equal to potential energy