Year 11 Physics

Conservation of Energy

Name:_____________

Hold an air-track glider at the top of a sloping air-track. Set the motion sensor to 20 Hz and place it
at the bottom of the track. Start the motion sensor and allow the glider to move down the track. Stop
the sensor just after the glider reaches the bottom.

Calculate the kinetic and gravitational potential energies of the glider. Take the bench as zero
height and the front of the glider as the reference position.

UG =

EK =

Measure the height of the front of the glider when it is at the bottom of the track.

Read the speed of the glider at the final position.

UG=
EK =
Calculate the kinetic and GPE of the glider at the bottom of the track.

1. How much UG did the glider lose as it moved down the track?

2. How much EK did the glider gain as it moved down the track?

3. The total of kinetic and potential energy is called MECHANICAL ENERGY. How does the
mechanical energy at the top compare with the mechanical energy at the bottom of the track?

4. Sketch a graph showing the kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy of the glider
as a function of distance travelled on the axes below. Also show a line for mechanical energy.

5. How efficiently was mechanical energy conserved in this experiment? Use calculations in
your answer.

Conclusion: