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PHY1004/PHY2053/PHY2048
Diego Cely
Garifullina Leysan
Monica Camargo
Tereza M Gago
March 22, 2013
Lab 8: Energy of a Tossed Ball
When a juggler tosses a bean ball straight upward, the ball slows down until
it reaches the top of its path and then speeds up on its way back down. In
terms of energy, when the ball is released it has kinetic energy, KE. As it
rises during its free-fall phase it slows down, loses kinetic energy, and gains
gravitational potential energy, PE. As it starts down, still in free fall, the
stored gravitational potential energy is converted back into kinetic energy as
the object falls.
If there is no work done by frictional forces, the total energy will remain
constant. In this experiment, we will see if this works out for the toss of a
ball.
M o tio n D e te c to r
MATERIALS
Computer
Vernier computer interface
Logger Pro
Vernier Motion Detector
Basketball and
Wire basket
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS
For each question, consider the free-fall portion of the motion of a ball tossed
straight upward, starting just as the ball is released to just before it is
caught. Assume that there is very little air resistance.
1. What form or forms of energy does the ball have while momentarily at
rest at the top of the path?
While momentarily at rest at the top of the path, the form/forms of
mechanical energy the ball has is Potential Energy
2. What form or forms of energy does the ball have while in motion near the
bottom of the path?
While in motion at the bottom of the path, the form of mechanical energy
the ball has is Kinetic Energy
3. Sketch a graph of velocity vs. time for the ball.
4. Sketch a graph of kinetic energy vs. time for the ball.
5. Sketch a graph of potential energy vs. time for the ball.
The Shaded region of our graph (above) represent the interval while the ball
is in freefall because
6. If there are no frictional forces acting on the ball, how is the change in the
balls potential energy related to the change in kinetic energy?
The change in the balls potential energy is equal to the change in
kinetic energy.
PROCEDURE
1. Measure and record the mass of the ball you plan to use in this
experiment.
we
take
the
standard
weight
of
the
Position
After release
On the way up
Before the Top
Top of path
After the Top
going down
Before catch
Time (s)
Height (m)
Velocity
(m/ s)
PE (J )
KE (J )
TE (J)
2.05
2.10
2.25
2.35
2.40
2.55
2.60
0.23
0.35
0.58
0.62
0.60
0.40
0.29
0.11
0.17
0.26
0.26
0.25
0.16
0.11
0.10
0.15
0.26
0.27
0.27
0.18
0.13
0.00
0.01
0.02
0.02
0.01
0.01
0.00
0.10
0.16
0.27
0.29
0.28
0.18
0.13
g = 9.8m/ s^2
Mass of the ball = 0.45kg
ANALYSIS
1. Click on the Examine button, , and move the mouse across the position
or velocity graphs of the motion of the ball to answer these questions.
a. Identify the portion of each graph where the ball had just left your
hands and was in free fall. Determine the height and velocity of the ball
at this time. Enter your values in your data table.
b. Identify the point on each graph where the ball was at the top of its
path. Determine the time, height, and velocity of the ball at this point.
Enter your values in your data table.
c. Find a time where the ball was moving downward, but a short time
before it was caught. Measure and record the height and velocity of the
ball at that time.
d. For each of the three points in your data table, calculate the Potential
Energy (PE), Kinetic Energy (KE), and Total Energy (TE). Use the position
of the Motion Detector as the zero of your gravitational potential
energy.
2. How well does this part of the experiment show conservation of energy?
Explain.
The law of conservation of energy states that energy is never created or
destroyed only converted. This law is known by two different names: (1).
The Law of Conservation of Energy" (2)."The First Law of
Thermodynamics"
Conservation of energy means that the total amount of energy in a closed
system remains constant. You can't create energy out of nothing, and you
can't destroy it - however, you can convert from one type of energy to
another. This includes converting useful energy to unusable energy - but
the total amount of energy still remains constant. There is a quantity
called energy that is conserved in a closed system. That is to say, if no
energy get into a system or gets out, the total amount of energy will
remain constant.
In our experiment we observed how the potential energy is turned into
kinetic energy.
3. Logger Pro can graph the balls kinetic energy according to KE = mv2 if
you supply the balls mass. To do this, choose Column Options Kinetic
Energy from the Data menu. Click the Column Definition tab. You will see
a dialog box containing an approximate formula for calculating the KE of
the ball. Edit the formula to reflect the mass of the ball and click
.
4. Logger Pro can also calculate the balls potential energy according to PE
= mgh. Here m is the mass of the ball, g the free-fall acceleration, and h
is the vertical height of the ball measured from the position of the Motion
Detector. As before, you will need to supply the mass of the ball. To do
this, choose Column Options Potential Energy from the Data menu. Click
the Column Definition tab. You will see a dialog box containing an
approximate formula for calculating the PE of the ball. Edit the formula to
reflect the mass of the ball and click
.
5. Go to the next page by clicking on the Next Page button,
6. Inspect your kinetic energy vs. time graph for the toss of the ball. Explain
its shape.
During free fall, the shape of the kinetic energy vs time graph is
a Parabola with a maximum at the end of the curve where the KE
reach its higher value: 0.98J
7. Inspect your potential energy vs. time graph for the free-fall flight of the
ball. Explain its shape.
During free fall, the shape of the potential energy vs time graph
is a Parabola with a maximum at the higher point where the PE
reach its higher value: 0.27J