Year 10 Engineering/Physics Summative Practical

Deconstruction and Design Task - Conservation of Energy

Introduction
The purpose of this task is to deconstruct and design an appropriate experiment to measure the energy
efficiency of a pendulum through quantitatively comparing its maximum kinetic and maximum potential
energy.

Theory
Mechanical energy exists in two forms, gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy. Gravitational
potential energy is the energy of position and can be thought of as stored energy due to the conservative
nature of the gravitational force field. Kinetic energy is energy of motion.

At every point in the motion of the pendulum the total mechanical energy is conserved, i.e., the sum of the
gravitational potential energy and the kinetic energy, at each point of the motion, is a constant. The highest
points of the motion are called the end points of the swing and at these points the total mechanical energy
is all in the form of gravitational potential energy. The lowest point of its motion is referred to as the
equilibrium point and at this point the total mechanical energy is all in the form of kinetic energy.

When the pendulum is displaced to one side, it is raised in height vertically by an amount equal to ∆h above
the lowest point of the motion. The following equation expresses the gravitational potential energy (PE) at
this highest point of the motion:
𝑃𝐸𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑚𝑔∆ℎ
where m = mass of pendulum; g = acceleration due to gravity (9.80 𝑚𝑠 −2 ); ∆h = change in height.

When the pendulum is released from the highest point of its motion, the amount of gravitational potential
energy begins to decrease as the speed of the pendulum increases and the gravitational potential energy is
converted into kinetic energy. At the lowest point of its motion the pendulum’s total mechanical energy is
all in the form of kinetic energy. The kinetic energy (KE) is given by the following formula:
1 2
𝐾𝐸𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑚𝑣𝑚𝑎𝑥
2
where 𝑣𝑚𝑎𝑥 is the velocity at the lowest point of the motion.

Part A: Experimental Deconstruction and Design

Consider what factors could affect the energy efficiency of the pendulum and how/why?
Design an appropriate experiment to investigate one of these factors, and include the following:
- aim and hypothesis
- variables, factors that must be controlled, cannot be controlled
- list of materials
- detailed procedure

Part B: Conduct an experiment

Collaboratively, you will work in small groups to select one of the methods designed by yourself or a group
member and undertake the investigation.

Part C: Write your report

Individually, you will write a report with the following:

- introduction with relevant physics concepts

- a hypothesis: educated guess usually in the following format “as the independent variable
increases/decreases, the dependent variable will increase/decrease”.
- variables (independent – the factor you are altering, dependent – the factor you are measuring,
controlled – factors that are kept the same)
- materials/apparatus
- method/procedure that outlines the method that was implemented (written in 3rd person and
past tense)
- results including table(s) and/or graph(s)
- analysis of results, identifying trends, and linking results to concepts
- evaluation of method/procedure and data, and identifying sources of uncertainty
- improvements that could be made to the experimental method to remove or reduce these
errors
- conclusion, with justification (was the hypothesis supported and was the aim achieved).
- bibliography of the sources (if any) you used for research while writing your practical report.
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:

ACSSU190 Energy conservation in a system can be explained by

A B C D E
describing energy transfers and transformations
Uses energy transfer and transformation to explain how various process
in a system can decrease the usable energy, resulting in a system that
is not 100% efficient.

ACSIS198 Formulate questions or hypotheses that can be investigated

A B C D E
scientifically
Deconstructs the experiment and justifies key decisions made

ACSIS200 Select and use appropriate equipment, including digital

A B C D E
technologies, to collect and record data systematically and accurately.
Effective and safe manipulation of experimental apparatus to complete
the practical.
Presents experimental data in correctly formatted tables and, where
appropriate, graphs.

ACSIS203 Analyse patterns and trends in data, including describing

A B C D E
relationships between variables and identifying inconsistencies
Analyses the data collected in the experiment and uses this data to
answer the problem posed.

ACSIS205 Evaluate conclusions, including identifying sources of

uncertainty and possible alternative explanations, and describe specific A B C D E
ways to improve the quality of the data.
Identifies sources of error and how they may affect the quality of
experimental data
Suggests improvements to the experimental method to eliminate or
reduce errors.

ACSIS208 Communicate scientific ideas and information for a particular

purpose, including constructing evidence-based arguments and using A B C D E
appropriate scientific language, conventions and representations.
Clear and concise communication using correct scientific terminology

OVERALL GRADE: A B C D E