Work: Comparison and Relationship between Different Energies

PHY 100 & 103

Students will consider the relationship between the initial gravitational potential energy and the final kinetic energy of a ball rolled down a ramp onto a horizontal surface. Conclusions will be drawn from the comparison of the ball's final horizontal velocity as found in two different ways, first experimentally using distance and time measurements, and then theoretically by assuming that all of the potential energy gets converted to kinetic.

Equipment

Notes

Place a small steel ball on each table. Tape a rigid ruler with center groove to the table, one end 10 cm away from edge and the other end supported by two wooden blocks. Apply tape such that rolling ball doesn't touch tape. The 30cm end of the ruler should be on the top of the blocks. Also, tape plumb bobs to the centerline of the ruler and let hang until just above the floor.

Make sure that the room has plenty of paper and that each table has a SAFE-T ruler, meter stick, and a sheet of carbon paper.