0MIAMI DADE COLLEGE/North Campus

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

In this experiment, we will study these energy changes using a Motion

Detector.

OBJECTIVES
 Measure the change in the kinetic and potential energies as a ball
moves in free fall.
 See how the total energy of the ball changes during free fall.

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
ball’s potential energy related to the change in kinetic energy?

The change in the ball’s 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.
 For this experiment we take the standard weight of the
basketball: 0.45kg

2. Connect the Motion Detector to the DIG/SONIC 1

channel of the interface. Place the Motion Detector
on the floor and protect it by placing a wire basket
over it.

3. Open the file “16 Energy of a Tossed Ball” from the Physics with Vernier
folder.

4. Hold the ball directly above and about 1.0 m from the Motion Detector. In
this step, you will toss the ball straight upward above the Motion Detector
and let it fall back toward the Motion Detector. Have your partner click
to begin data collection. Toss the ball straight up after you hear the
Motion Detector begin to click. Use two hands. Be sure to pull your hands
away from the ball after it starts moving so the Motion Detector does not
pick them up. Throw the ball so it reaches maximum height of about
1.5 m above the Motion Detector. Verify that the position vs. time graph
corresponding to the free-fall motion is parabolic in shape, without spikes
or flat regions, before you continue. This step may require some practice.
If necessary, repeat the toss, until you get a good graph. When you have
good data on the screen, proceed to the Analysis section.

DATA TABLE

Velocity
Position Time (s) Height (m) PE (J ) KE (J ) TE (J)
(m/ s)
After release 2.05 0.23 0.11 0.10 0.00 0.10
On the way up 2.10 0.35 0.17 0.15 0.01 0.16
Before the Top 2.25 0.58 0.26 0.26 0.02 0.27
Top of path 2.35 0.62 0.26 0.27 0.02 0.29
After the Top 2.40 0.60 0.25 0.27 0.01 0.28
going down 2.55 0.40 0.16 0.18 0.01 0.18
Before catch 2.60 0.29 0.11 0.13 0.00 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 ball’s kinetic energy according to KE = ½ mv2 if
you supply the ball’s 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 ball’s 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
8. Record the two energy graphs by printing or sketching.

9. Compare your energy graphs predictions (from the Preliminary Questions)

to the real data for the ball toss.

10. Logger Pro will also calculate Total Energy, the sum of KE and PE
(TE=KE+PE), for plotting. Record the graph by printing or sketching.

In our graph a line with the slope approximately equal to zero

describes the TE

11. What do you conclude from this graph about the total energy of the ball
as it moved up and down in free fall? Does the total energy remain
constant? Should the total energy remain constant? Why? If it does not,
what sources of extra energy are there or where could the missing energy
have gone?

DEFINITIONS - EXTENSIONS OR CONCLUSION

1. What would change in this experiment if you used a very light ball, like a
beach ball?

Because the PE and TE are directly proportional to the mass, the

result of them will be smaller. The TE is smaller as well but
 constant. Energy of the ball will reduce by the factor by which
ball mass reduces, but there will be no change in vmax and
height attained.

2. What would happen to your experimental results if you entered the wrong
mass for the ball in this experiment?

The results of all energies (PE, KE and TE) change because these
are directly proportional to the mass. The PE energy is directly
related to position, and the KE is related to velocity. So altering
the mass wouldn’t really affect our graphs too much, but it would
definitely change our total energy

3. Definition of Conservation of Energy and its mathematical representation.

Energy can be defined as the capacity for doing work. It may

exist in a variety of forms and may be transformed from one type
of energy to another. However, these energy transformations are
constrained by a fundamental principle, the Conservation of
Energy principle. One way to state this principle is "Energy can
neither be created nor destroyed". Another approach is to say
that the total energy of an isolated system remains constant.

If only conservative forces are acting, the total mechanical

energy of a system neither increases nor decreases in any
process. It stay constant-it is conserved.

E = KE + PE

E = 1/2mv2+mgh

Where E is the total mechanical energy, KE is kinetic energy, and PE

is potential energy. From this, the equation for conservation of
total mechanical energy can be derived:

Ei = Ef

or

Ki + Ui = Kf + Uf

Where Ei is total initial mechanical energy and Ef is total final

mechanical energy. This shows that the total initial mechanical
energy equals the total final mechanical energy for the system.
It is because of this phenomenon that a roller coaster is called a
“coaster.” After the initial input of energy to carry the train up
the lift hill, the roller coaster simply coasts through the rest of
the ride.

For an elastic force, conservation of energy:

1/2mv12+1/2kx12= 1/2mv22+1/2kx22