Conservation of Energy EX-9935

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1Conservation of Energy
EQUIPMENT 1 2 1 INCLUDED: Roller Coaster Complete System Photogate Heads Smart Timer ME-9812 ME-9498A ME-89 !

INTRODUCTION A "ar is started from rest o# a $ariety of shapes of tra"%s &hills' $alleys' loops' straight tra"%( a#d the speeds of the "ar at $ario)s poi#ts alo#g the tra"% are meas)red )si#g a photogate "o##e"ted to a Smart Timer* The pote#tial e#ergy is "al")lated from the meas)red height a#d the %i#eti" e#ergy is "al")lated from the speed* The total e#ergy is "al")lated for t+o poi#ts o# the tra"% a#d "ompared* The height from +hi"h the "ar m)st ,e released from rest to -)st ma%e it o$er the loop "a# ,e predi"ted from "o#ser$atio# of e#ergy a#d the "e#tripetal a""eleratio#* The# the predi"tio# "a# ,e tested o# the real roller "oaster* Also' if the "ar is released from the top of the hill so it easily ma%es it o$er the top of the loop' the speed of the "ar "a# ,e meas)red at the top of the loop a#d the "e#tripetal a""eleratio# as +ell as the appare#t +eight &#ormal for"e( o# the "ar "a# ,e "al")lated* THEORY The total e#ergy &E( of the "ar is e.)al to its %i#eti" e#ergy &/( a#d its pote#tial e#ergy &0(* E1/20
K = 1 mv 2 2

&1( &2(

+here m is the mass of the "ar a#d $ is the speed of the "ar* 01mgh & (

+here g is the a""eleratio# d)e to gra$ity a#d h is the height of the "ar a,o$e the positio# +here the pote#tial e#ergy is defi#ed to ,e 3ero* 4f fri"tio# "a# ,e ig#ored' the total e#ergy of the "ar does #ot "ha#ge* The 5a+ of Co#ser$atio# of E#ergy is stated as E 1 "o#sta#t K initial +U initial = K final +U final

Written by Ann Hanks

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STEP PROCEDURE

Figure ! "te# Configuration 1* Co#fig)re the tra"% as sho+# i# 6ig)re 1* Atta"h a photogate to the straight portio# at the ,ottom' positio#ed to meas)re the speed of the "ar -)st after it rea"hes the straight part &o# the se"o#d peg from the left(* Also p)t the "at"her o# the e#d of the straight part to %eep the "ar from goi#g off the e#d of the tra"%* Pla"e the Mi#i Car at the top of the step o# the left* Mar% o# the +hite ,oard +here yo) start the "ar* Meas)re the i#itial height of the "ar7 Meas)re from the ta,le to the "e#ter of mass of the "ar* 8ote that the "e#ter of mass of the "ar is appro9imately at the slot +here the flag is i#serted* The e9a"t "e#ter of mass "a# ,e determi#ed ,y ,ala#"i#g the "ar* Meas)re the "ar:s mass* Pla"e the "ar at the ,ottom o# the flat part of the tra"% a#d meas)re the height of the "ar from the ta,le* Pla"e the "ar at the top a#d release it from rest* 0se the photogate a#d Smart Timer &set o# the ;elo"ity7 <#e =ate Mode( to meas)re the speed of the "art at the ,ottom of the step* Cal")late the i#itial total e#ergy of the "ar* Cal")late the fi#al total e#ergy of the "ar* Ho+ m)"h e#ergy is lostA Bhere does it goA Cal")late the per"e#t of tota e#ergy lost*
C %ost = Energy%ost $nitialEnergy

12*

* 4*

>* ?* @* 8*

9*

Pla"e the >!g mass o# the "ar a#d repeat steps 2 thro)gh 8 a,o$e*

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Conservation of Energy EX-9935

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QUESTIONS 1* 2* * Ho+ does i#"reasi#g the mass of the "ar "ha#ge the total e#ergyA Ho+ does i#"reasi#g the mass of the "ar "ha#ge the speed of the "ar at the ,ottomA Does the "ar lose a greater per"e#tage of its e#ergy +he# it has the e9tra mass or #otA

HILL PROCEDURE

Figure &! Hill Configuration

Figure 3! Hill 'it( )(otogates 1* Co#fig)re the tra"% as sho+# i# 6ig)res 2 a#d * Atta"h photogates at the top of the hill a#d o# the straight portio# at the ,ottom* Also p)t the "at"her o# the e#d of the straight part to %eep the "ar from goi#g off the e#d of the tra"%* Pla"e the Mi#i Car at the top of the hill o# the left* Mar% o# the +hite ,oard +here yo) start the "ar* Meas)re the i#itial height of the "ar7 Meas)re from the ta,le to the "e#ter of the "ar* Pla"e the "ar at the top of the small hill i# the "e#ter a#d meas)re the height of the "ar* Pla"e the "ar at the ,ottom o# the flat part of the tra"% a#d meas)re the height of the "ar from the ta,le* Pla"e the "ar at the top a#d release it from rest* 0se the Smart Timer o# ;elo"ity7 2 =ate Mode to meas)re the speed of the "art at the top of the "e#ter hill a#d at the ,ottom*

12*

* 4* >*

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?* @* 8* 9* 1!*

Cal")late the i#itial total e#ergy of the "ar* Cal")late the total e#ergy of the "ar at the top of the "e#ter hill* Ho+ m)"h e#ergy is lostA Bhere does it goA Cal")late the per"e#t of total e#ergy lost*
C %ost = Energy%ost $nitialEnergy

Cal")late the total e#ergy of the "ar at the ,ottom* Cal")late the per"e#t of the total e#ergy lost ,et+ee# the starti#g positio# o# the left a#d the fi#al positio# o# the right*

QUESTIONS 1* 0si#g the speed of the "ar at the top of the middle hill' "al")late the #ormal for"e o# the "ar* Eo) +ill #eed to estimate the radi)s of a "ir"le that mat"hes the ")r$at)re of the hill ,y dra+i#g the "ir"le o# the +hite ,oard* Ho+ fast +o)ld the "ar ha$e to go to "a)se the #ormal for"e to ,e 3ero at the top of the hillA Ho+ high +o)ld the "ar ha$e to start to ma%e this happe#A

2*

LOOP PROCEDURE

Figure *! %oo# "etu#

1*

Figure 5! )(otogate )osition Co#fig)re the tra"% as sho+# i# 6ig)res 4 a#d >* Atta"h a photogate at the top of the loop* Also p)t the "at"her o# the e#d of the tra"% to %eep the "ar from goi#g off the e#d

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of the tra"%* 12* P)t a peg i# the "e#ter of the loop* Pla"e the Mi#i Car at the top of the loop* Mar% o# the positio# of the "e#ter of mass of the "ar o# the +hite ,oard* Meas)re from the "e#ter of the "e#ter peg to the "e#ter of mass of the "ar at the top of the loop &see 6ig)re ?(*

Figure +! %oo# ,a-ius * 4* >* ?* Meas)re the dista#"e from the "e#ter of mass of the "ar at the top of the loop to the ta,le* 0si#g Co#ser$atio# of E#ergy' predi"t the mi#im)m height from +hi"h the "ar "a# ,e released o# the left e#d of the tra"% so the "ar +ill -)st ma%e it "ompletely o$er the loop* Dra+ a hori3o#tal li#e from the top of the "ir"le yo) dre+ for the loop to the left part of the tra"%* Meas)re from this li#e to mar% the starti#g positio# "al")lated i# Part 4* Pla"e the "e#ter of mass of the "ar at the mar%ed predi"ted positio# a#d release it from rest*

QUESTIONS 1* 2* Does the "ar ma%e it o$erA 4f #ot' +hy #otA 4f so' does it -)st ma%e it or did yo) start too highA <#"e yo) ha$e determi#ed the release positio# +here the "ar +ill ma%e it o$er the loop' o,ser$e a#d mar% the highest positio# rea"hed o# the right side of the tra"%* 4# theory' +here sho)ld this positio# ,eA Ho+ far a,o$e or ,elo+ is this positio# from the hori3o#tal li#e dra+# i# Part >A 0se the loss i# height from the starti#g positio# to "al")late the per"e#t e#ergy lost*
C Energy%ost = %oss.fHeig(t "tartingHeig(t

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THREE!C"R CO"STER PROCEDURE 1* /eep the same tra"% "o#fig)ratio# as sho+# i# 6ig)res 4 a#d >* Ma%e "ertai# the photogate is dire"tly o$er the top of the loop* Hold a "ar at the top of the loop a#d ad-)st the photogate )p or do+# so the photogate flag +ill ,lo"% the gate* 8ote that the flag m)st ,e i# a parti")lar side of the "ar i# order to pass thro)gh the gate* Co##e"t Mi#i Cars together as sho+# i# 6ig)re @*

12*

Figure /! Conne0te- Cars * 4* Pla"e a flag i# ea"h "ar as sho+# i# 6ig)re 8* Set the Smart Timer o# Time7 6e#"e Mode to meas)re the speed of ea"h "art at the top of the loop* Press the F)tto# G o# the Smart Timer to ready the timer* Pla"e the -"ar "oaster at the top of the hill o# the left a#d release it from rest* Figure 1! Cars 'it( Flags ?* After the "oaster passes thro)gh the loop' press F)tto# G o# the Smart Timer to stop timi#g* The first time displayed +ill ,e the time ,et+ee# ,lo"%s o# the first "arHs photogate flag* See 6ig)re 9* The# step thro)gh the s),se.)e#t times ,y repeatedly pressi#g F)tto# G2*
Timi#g Starts

>*

t>

t4

t2

t1

Figure 9! )(otogate 2iming The se"o#d a#d

Written by Ann Hanks

Photogate

third

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times are +he# the se"o#d "arHs photogate flag ,lo"%ed the photogate* Ta%e the differe#"e ,et+ee# the se"o#d a#d third times to fi#d the time for the passi#g of the se"o#d "arHs flag* Similarly' the fo)rth a#d fifth times "orrespo#d to the ,lo"%i#g ,y the third "arHs flag* Cal")late the speed of ea"h "ar )si#g the ,lo"%-,lo"% dista#"e of the flag &1 "m(7
v= 3 10m = t t

QUESTIONS 1* 2* * Bhi"h "ar is goi#g the fastest at the top of the loopA Co#sideri#g e#ergy "o#ser$atio#' ho+ "a# ea"h "ar ha$e a differe#t speed at the top of the loopA Bhi"h "ar e9perie#"es the least #ormal for"e at the top of the loopA Ho+ is the e9perie#"e of the riders i# the first "ar of a "oaster differe#t from the e9perie#"e of the riders i# the last "ar of a "oasterA

HI#H RO"D$LO% RO"D PROCEDURE

Figure 4! Hig( ,oa-5%o' ,oa- Configuration

Figure 1*

! )(otogate )la0ement

Co#fig)re the t+o tra"%s as sho+# i# 6ig)res 1! a#d 11* Atta"h a photogate at the e#d of

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the t+o tra"%s as sho+# i# 6ig)re 11* Also p)t "at"hers o# the e#d of ea"h tra"% to %eep the "ars from goi#g off the e#d of the tra"%s* P)t a photogate flag i# ea"h of the "ars' i# the sides #earest to the other "ar so ,oth flags +ill ,lo"% the photogate* 12* * 4* 4f the "ars are started from rest o# the left e#d of ea"h tra"% at the same time' predi"t +hi"h "ar +ill rea"h the right e#d first* Try it to test yo)r predi"tio#* Predi"tio#7 Bhi"h "ar +ill ha$e the greater speed at the right e#d of the tra"%A Set the Smart Timer for Speed7 Collisio# Mode* Press the F)tto# G o# the Smart Timer to ready the timer* Pla"e the t+o "ars o# the left e#d of the tra"% a#d release them from rest* After the "ars pass thro)gh the photogate' press F)tto# G o# the Smart Timer to stop timi#g* The speeds of the "ars +ill ,e displayed*

>*

QUESTIONS 1* 2* Bhi"h "ar has the greater speed at the right e#d of the tra"%A Ho+ does e#ergy "o#ser$atio# e9plai# the res)ltA Bhi"h "ar rea"hes the e#d of the tra"% firstA BhyA

Written by Ann Hanks