Maria Lovely Dela Cruz LBYENVP

Transformation of Mechanical Energy I. Methodology An inclined plane is set-up having five different heights (.08m, .10m, .12m, .14m, and .16m). A cart and a sensor are placed on the inclined plane. The cart is released from the top position of the inclined plane down to the bottom using different heights. The sensor monitors the cart as it goes through the inclined plane and measures the position, velocity, and acceleration of the cart.
Data Analysis

II.

R e s u l t s a n d

The above data are the data results of the experiment. As you can see, the graph of position is directly proportional to the height of the inclined plane. The velocity is also directly proportional to the height but less steeper compared to the graph of position. The same goes true with the graph of acceleration.

Potential energy vs Height and Kinetic energy vs. Height 0.014 0.012 0.01 0.008 KE 0.006 0.004 0.002 0 0.08 0.1 0.12 0.14 0.16 PE

III.

Results and Discussion The experiment shows that potential energy and mechanical energy are present when the cart is at its released point. On the other hand, kinetic energy and mechanical energy are present when the cart rolls down the ramp. The initial potential energy increases as the height of the ramp increases however the initial kinetic energy is constant zero when the cart is still at its released position. Initial mechanical energy has the same value with the initial potential energy since mechanical energy is the sum of potential and kinetic energy therefore whatever the value of initial potential energy is the value of the initial mechanical energy since kinetic energy is zero. However, when the cart is released and starts to roll down the ramp, the kinetic energy increases while the potential energy decreases until it becomes zero. When the value of potential energy becomes zero, the value of the kinetic energy becomes the value of the mechanical energy. As the height of the ramp increases, the potential, kinetic, and mechanical energy increases as well. The velocity of the cart as it slides down the inclined plane increases and this makes the kinetic energy increases as well since the formula of kinetic energy is 1/2Mv^2 therefore velocity is directly proportional to kinetic energy. The potential energy decreases as the cart slides down while the mechanical energy does not change. Moreover, the acceleration increases as the height of the ramp increases.

IV.

Conclusion When potential energy converts to kinetic energy, mechanical energy is still conserved since mechanical energy is the sum of potential and kinetic energies. Total mechanical energy remains the same, only the potential energy decreases as the kinetic energy increases and vice versa.