The Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed; however it is transformed from one form to another. Forms of energy include kinetic, potential, and elastic energy. The elastic energy before the object is released should be equal to the final kinetic energy. Energy may appear to be lost from an object, but it is actually released through thermal energy as a result of friction.
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PART ONE
First, setup a dynamics cart with a spring on a level plane. Using a force sensor, record the Force acting on the red spring and the compression of the spring from its original position. Create a force vs. compression graph to determine the spring constant. PART TWO
Use the spring constant from Part One to determine the elastic energy stored in the spring when it is compressed.Determine the kinetic energy after the cart is released. Measure the velocity directly with a photogate and picket fence, varying the mass of the cart for six separate trials. Then, compare your results using percent difference. |
Elastic Energy Equation
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Kinetic Energy Equation
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