Physics 104

Conservation of Energy (CE) Lab

In this activity you will investigate the conservation of mechanical energy as the
gravitational potential energy of a falling weight is converted into kinetic energy of the
falling weight and a moving cart.

If an object of mass M is moving with velocity v, the kinetic energy (KE) associated with
the objects motion is
1 2
KE = Mv .
2

If the object moves a vertical distance h, it either gains or loses an amount of gravitational
potential energy (GPE) given by

GPE = Mgh ,

Where g = 9.8 m/s2 is the acceleration caused by gravity. The object gains GPE if it
moves upward and loses GPE if it moves downward. Remember that the right hand sides
of both the equations above are general definitions. They have to be properly setup for the
particular experiment. We will do this below for you.

Procedure

TASK 1: Start the program

Start the Data Studio program and configure it to use the photogate to measure the
velocity of the cart.

TASK 2: Experimental Setup

Look at the diagram shown in the next page, which should be quite familiar to you.
Energy is a concept designed to account for the effects of forces on the state of motion of
an object. Its most powerful application, however, is contained in the principle known as
the Law of Conservation of Energy. We will test this law with the help of the setup. The
law of conservation of energy for this setup is

GPE lost by falling weight = KE gained by rolling cart + KE of falling weight

(Mholder + Mbrass weights) g X = 1/2 (Mcart + Mpicket fence + Mholder + Mbrass weights )v2 (1)

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 Ini t ia l Fin a l

TASK 3: Measuring Mass.

a) Find the mass of the cart. Convert the value in kilograms and put that in cell B2 of
table CE.1
b) Now add all the mass in column B and put the total in cell B5 of table CE.1. This is
the total Mass of the cart MA that you will use in your calculations.
c) The weight of the hanger + 50 g mass is already given to you as MB.

TASK 4: Take the data

a) Place a 50 g weight hanger, which should be hanging on the end of the string that
passes through the pulley and hangs over the side of the lab bench.
b) Choose a reference mark (V) on the cart on the side of the cart.
c) Slowly pull the cart 10 cm back to the left of the photogate and start the program to
measure the data. Release the cart.
d) Record the data in cell B2 of table CE.2 provided to you in your CE worksheet.
e) Repeat b), c), and d) four more times and record all five values in cell B3 through B6
and their average in cell B7 of the table CE.2 below.
f) Now pull the cart back 20 cm to the left of the photogate and start the program to
measure the data. Release cart. Record the value in cell E2 of table CE.2.
g) Then repeat step f) four more times and put the data in cells E3 through E6 and put
the average in cell E7.

TASK 5: Analyze the data

Calculate the required information (see? mark) in table CE.3a and CE.3b provided to you
in your CE worksheet. Note that values of MA and MB = 0.055 kg come from table CE.1

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and V1 and V2 come from table CE.2. Also take note of brackets in the multiplication.
Your relative difference should be within 20% in both trials. If not than you are probably
doing something wrong in your calculations. Answer the questions that are listed in
your worksheet.

TASK 6: Data Analysis

a) If you were working with a partner, then at this point you can proceed to complete the
activity on your own.
b) You and your partner should already have the necessary data on hard copy table CE.1,
CE.2, CE.3a and CE.3b.
c) Turn in your group worksheet when you are finished.

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 Conservation of Energy (CE) Worksheet
Page 1 of 2
Name: _______________________________________ Date:

Partner: ______________________________________

Partner: ______________________________________

CE.1:
A B C D E
1 Item Mass in kg Item Mass in kg
2 Cart Hanger 0.050
3
4 Picket fence 0.013
5 Total MA Total MB 0.050

CE.2:
A B C D E
1 (X=0.10 m) Velocity (X=0.20 m) Velocity
in m/s in m/s
2 First trial First trial
3 Second trail Second trail
4 Third trial Third trial
5 Fourth trial Fourth trial
6 Fifth trial Fifth trial
7 Average velocity for Average velocity for
5 trials V1 5 trials V2

CE.3a:
(X=0.10 m)
GPE = (MB ) (9.8) (0.10) Joules

KE= (0.5)(MA + MB) (V12) Joules

GPE − KE
Re lative difference (in %) = × 100
GPE

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 Conservation of Energy (CE) Worksheet
Page 2 of 2

CE.3b:
(X=0.20 m)
GPE = (MB ) (9.8) (0.20) Joules

KE= (0.5) (MA + MB ) (V22 ) Joules

GPE − KE
Re lative difference (in %) = × 100
GPE

Questions for Task 5: Analyze the data

1. In both trials what happen to the magnitude of kinetic energy as the cart rolls on the
track?
Answer:

2. In both trials what happens to the magnitude of gravitational potential energy as the
hanging mass falls?
Answer:

3. In both trials is the relative error less than 5%. If your answer is no, explain why you
have a larger error. If your answer is yes under, what condition can you say that the
law of conservation of energy is valid?
Answer: