Work and Energy - 11

Data and Work Sheets - Staple these sheets together before submitting

Work and Energy - Physics 1028A

2020-2021
Please circle the appropriate values

Course 1028A 1301A 1401A 1501A

Lab Section 002 003 004 005 006 007 008 009 010 013 014

Lab Subsection A B C D

Name First: Last:

Student #

Lab Partner First: Last:

Lab Station #

Date

Demonstrator

Disclaimer: Please note that some but not all questions in this lab writeup will be graded.

EXPERIMENT 1: PRELIMINARY ADJUSTMENT OF THE APPARATUS

DATA AND CALCULATIONS

Levelling the air track

Place the car at one end of the track and send it through both photogates. If the track is hori-
zontal, the timers should read the same time to within 5%. If necessary, adjust the leg(s) at one
end of the track in order to level it. (Adjust at the end that is not connected to the air hose.)
Timer reading: t1 = t2 =

Percent difference between the two readings: (Should be less than 5% for better accuracy.)

What conclusion can you draw from the percent difference test?
Work and Energy - 12

EXPERIMENT 2: CONSERVATION OF MECHANICAL ENERGY

Units in data: Measure x1 , x2 , �, D and H in centimeters (cm) and record in cm. Convert data into
SI units in the first step in your calculation. All calculations must be done in SI units.

Uncertainty in x1 , x2 : These are ‘positions’ of the photogates, and the uncertainty is ± 0.05 cm.
Uncertainty in �, D, H and L: These are length measurements. The uncertainty is ± 0.1 cm.
However, estimate δ D to be higher since D is difficult to measure.
Uncertainty in m: Add the uncertainties in masses and the pan balance used.

Record absolute uncertainties in data to one significant figure. Follow the rules for subtraction,
addition, multiplication and division. Keep the correct number of significant figures in derived
quantities.

DATA
Table 1: Dimensions of the Apparatus

Item Measurement & Uncertainty

1st Photogate x1 ± δ x1 =

2nd Photogate x2 ± δ x2 =

Length of flag on air car �± δ� =

Distance between track legs D± δD =

Mass of air car m± δm =

Height of aluminum tube H ± δH =

=
=

CALCULATIONS

Convert all units into SI units in your calculations.

δ Havg = meter ruler reading uncertainty + 1/2 (Hmax - Hmin )

δ L = δ x1 + δ x2

Distance between photogates

L ± δL =
L = x2 − x1
Average H Havg ± δ Havg =
 Work and Energy - 13

Calculate the vertical height h between the points A and B. Find the absolute uncertainty δ h. Write
your answer in the form h ± δ h units. Since h is an intermediate value, keep δ h to two significant
figures (Notes to Students: Section 3.8).
LHavg
h = L sin θ =
D

(14)

δh δL δ Havg δD
= + +
h L Havg D

Record h ± δ h as an intermediate value:

h±δh

(Intermediate value of δ h has two significant figures.)

Calculate the car’s initial gravitational potential energy at A, UA = mgh. Use g = 9.804 ± 0.001
m/s2 . Then find the fractional ( δUA /UA ) and absolute uncertainties (δUA ) in UA . Record UA in
the form UA ± δUA units.

UA = m g h

(15)

δUA δm δg δh
= + +
UA m g h

Intermediate value: UA ± δUA

Work and Energy - 14

The values in the last column EA - EB must be close to zero. If they are not, your data may have a
problem. Verify your data and calculations, and contact the demonstrator if necessary.
Table 2: Energy of the Air Car

(initial) (final) vA vB KA (total initial (total final EA - E B

tA (s) tB (s) (m/s) (m/s) (Joules) energy) energy) (Joules)
± ± EA = UA + KA EB = KB
(Joules) (Joules)

Sample calculation of EA - EB
Select one trial from Table 2, and starting from the first column, show how you will calculate
vA , vB , KA , KB , EA and EA - EB . Show the equation and the first step of substituting numerical
values into the equation and units. Each t value in the first two columns has three significant
figures. Carefully think of how many significant figures you should keep in subsequent columns.
vA = l/tA EA = UA + KA

vB = l/tB EB = KB

KA = 1/2 mv2A EA - E B

KB = 1/2 mv2B

In an ideal experiment, EA (initial total mechanical energy) should be equal to EB (final total
mechanical energy) because the total mechanical energy in the system is conserved, and therefore
the values in the last column in Table 2 should be zero. However, you will probably find that the
two values, EA and EB , are not exactly equal because of the experimental uncertainties involved.
Next, perform the overlap test to check whether the two values EA and EB are equal within their
experimental uncertainties (Notes to Students: Section 4).
 Work and Energy - 15

How to compare EA and EB using the overlap test: Select one trial to perform sample cal-
culations and the overlap test. First we must calculate the absolute uncertainties, δ EA and δ EB .

Absolute uncertainty, δ EA
Since EA = UA + KA , you can write, δ EA = δUA + δ KA . Use the δUA value found in the last
part. Calculate δ KA using the following equation. Use tA , vA and EA values that you selected from
Table 2.

� �2 � �
1 1 l δm δl δtA
KA = m v2A = m , δ KA = +2 +2 KA (16)
2 2 tA m l tA

δ EA = δUA + δ KA

The total initial mechanical energy = EA ± δ EA

Record the above values in intermediate value format.

Absolute uncertainty, δ EB
EB = UB + KB = KB and therefore, δ EB = δ KB .
We can use the Equation (17) to calculate δ KB . However, we have to use tB and vB instead of tA
and vA . Use tB , vB , and EB values obtained for the trial you selected.

� �2 � �
1 1 l δm δl δtB
KB = m v2B = m , δ KB = +2 +2 KB (17)
2 2 tB m l tB

δ EB = δUB + δ KB = δ KB

The total initial energy = EB ± δ EB

Record the above values in intermediate value format.
 Work and Energy - 16

OVERLAP TEST: Finally, compare EA and EB using the overlap test. An example of overlap test
is given in Notes to Students: Section 4.1. Use the intermediate values of δ EA and δ EB (i.e., 2
significant figures).

|EA − EB | ≤ (δ EA + δ EB ) (18)

Is the test successful? If EA = EB , what does this mean? Write your answers in the space above.

EXPERIMENT 3: WORK DONE BY AN EXTERNALLY APPLIED FORCE

DATA AND CALCULATIONS

Table 3: Work Done by an External Force

(initial) (final) vA = �/tA vB = �/tB EA = 1/2mv2A EB = 1/2mv2B + mgh Wext = EB - Wext = F L

tA (s) tB (s) (m/s) (m/s) (Initial energy) (Final energy) EA (Joules)
(Joules) (Joules) (Joules) Theoretical
Experimental

Average Wext :

Theoretical work done, Wext :

The force F is the tension in the string attached to the car. An analysis of the system used in this
experiment (Figure 5) shows that the magnitude of F is given by Equation (19) where: sin θ = H avg
/ D, m = mass of the air car, m1 = 30 g = mass attached to the string. Calculate the theoretical value
of F using Equation (19), and then Wext using Equation (20). F is an intermediate value. Think
about how many significant figures you should keep in the answer.
m m1
F= g (1 + sin θ ) (19)
m + m1
 Work and Energy - 17

Wext = F L (20)

Compare the average Wext from Table 3 to the theoretical Wext above using the percent difference
test. Is the test successful? If Wext, experimental = Wext, theoretical what does that mean? (See the
example in Section 4.2, Notes to Students).

Percent difference test:

� �
�Wext, experimental − Wext, theoretical �
� � × 100 < 10% (21)
Wext, experimental + Wext, theoretical /2

If Wext, experimental = Wext, theoretical within 10% error, what does that mean?

Post-Lab Question: Answer the following questions without help from your demonstrator. You
may discuss with your lab partner.

1) Suppose you throw a ball of mass m straight up with an initial vertical velocity v (m/s) and catch
it later. Answer the following questions assuming there is no air friction or no non-conservative
forces acting on the ball. Define potential energy as zero at the level where the ball leaves your
hand.

Your answers must contain only m and v and no other variables like height. You can find the
answers easily if you think about the conservation of mechanical energy of the system.

(a) What is the kinetic energy of the ball when it was leav-
ing your hand?

(b) What is the mechanical energy of the ball when it was

leaving your hand?

(c) What is the mechanical energy of the ball at the maximum height?

(d) What is the mechanical energy of the ball when you catch it later?

2) How much work is done by gravity on the hanging mass in Experiment 3 as it drops a height L
?
Work and Energy - 18

CONCLUSIONS AND DISCUSSION

Summarize all your conclusions drawn from your results. Separate your conclusions into different
sections rather than writing an essay. Discuss your results. Are they successful? If not, explain
why? Your results must support your explanation. Do you have any suggestions to improve any
part of your experiment?

Marks Table

Total Mark
(Lab report + Pre-lab )