PHYS20

0
Home Lab Manual Version 2.3

Experiment 4
Mechanical Energy

Jared
Hoffman
309144
5
Feb 20,

2013

Introduction
Mechanical energy consists of kinetic and potential energy. Kinetic energy is the
energy of motion. When a mass travels at a certain velocity, kinetic energy is
formed. Similarly, potential energy is the energy associated with forces that depend
on the position or configuration of an object relative to the surroundings. The most
common example of potential energy is gravitational potential energy. Consider a
pendulum, a body suspended from a fixed point where it can swing freely to and fro
under the action of gravity. When the body is swayed, it has the ability to do work
as it is released. Assuming that air resistance and frictional sources are neglected,
the potential energy is entirely converted to kinetic energy. This experiment will
examine mechanical energy of a pendulum and how potential energy is
converted to kinetic energy. The equations used in this experiment are shown
below.

Procedure
1.
2.

Two large elastics were placed around a soccer ball.

A one metre long Christmas ribbon was connected to the elastics that were
placed around the soccer ball.
3. A nail was placed into a wooden ceiling frame.
4. The other end of the ribbon was connected to the frame allowing the
soccer ball and ribbon to act like a pendulum.
5. The Go!Motion device was tapped to a wall near the pendulum.
6. The Go!Motion device was connected to a laptop.
7. The Logger Pro software opened to record the position of the ball over time.
8. The soccer ball was placed near the Go!Motion device where it could sway
smoothly.
9. The Collect button in the LP software was pressed to record the pendulum.
10. The soccer ball was quickly released and allowed to sway smoothly.

Pictures
The materials and set-up of the experiment are shown below. Figure 1 shows
overall experiment set-up and the materials used, which include: a laptop, the Go!
Motion device, Christmas ribbon, a nail, and a soccer ball. Figure 2 shows where the
soccer ball was placed initially before it was released. Figure 3 shows how the Go!
Motion device was connected to the wall.

Figure 1: Experiment Set-up and Materials

Figure 2: Soccer Ball Placement

Prior to Release

Figure 3: Go!Motion
Mount

Data
Tim
e
(s)
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
0.30
0.35
0.40
0.45
0.50
0.55
0.60
0.65
0.70
0.75
0.80
0.85
0.90
0.95
1.00
1.05
1.10
1.15
1.20
1.25
1.30
1.35
1.40
1.45
1.50
1.55
1.60
1.65
1.70
1.75
1.80
1.85
1.90
1.95
2.00
2.05
2.10
2.15
2.20
2.25
2.30
2.35
2.40
2.45
2.50

R
(m)
0.310
0.310
0.310
0.306
0.309
0.310
0.315
0.327
0.349
0.383
0.430
0.494
0.572
0.668
0.809
0.899
0.984
1.084
1.176
1.277
1.370
1.437
1.507
1.592
1.632
1.671
1.704
1.721
1.730
1.725
1.715
1.688
1.650
1.604
1.543
1.476
1.410
1.323
1.232
1.138
1.054
0.938
0.840
0.740
0.657
0.573
0.501
0.449
0.408
0.378

Velocity
(m/s)
-0.007
-0.012
-0.021
-0.003
0.037
0.090
0.197
0.359
0.574
0.825
1.114
1.441
1.787
2.167
2.170
1.905
1.878
1.902
1.905
1.845
1.629
1.461
1.432
1.204
0.884
0.697
0.488
0.269
0.049
-0.159
-0.385
-0.633
-0.844
-1.055
-1.245
-1.366
-1.541
-1.729
-1.821
-1.850
-1.975
-2.049
-1.963
-1.831
-1.672
-1.507
-1.239
-0.950
-0.700
-0.446

Tim
e
(s)
2.55
2.60
2.65
2.70
2.75
2.80
2.85
2.90
2.95
3.00
3.05
3.10
3.15
3.20
3.25
3.30
3.35
3.40
3.45
3.50
3.55
3.60
3.65
3.70
3.75
3.80
3.85
3.90
3.95
4.00
4.05
4.10
4.15
4.20
4.25
4.30
4.35
4.40
4.45
4.50
4.55
4.60
4.65
4.70
4.75
4.80
4.85
4.90
4.95
5.00

R
(m)
0.363
0.361
0.371
0.392
0.426
0.472
0.534
0.608
0.695
0.798
0.914
0.980
1.078
1.171
1.265
1.352
1.424
1.477
1.553
1.603
1.631
1.662
1.682
1.693
1.688
1.673
1.643
1.611
1.573
1.512
1.440
1.391
1.300
1.210
1.120
1.028
0.933
0.850
0.761
0.671
0.596
0.530
0.480
0.441
0.417
0.405
0.404
0.414
0.435
0.470

Velocity
(m/s)
-0.181
0.072
0.311
0.555
0.811
1.083
1.353
1.618
1.865
2.019
1.865
1.761
1.848
1.833
1.754
1.568
1.344
1.267
1.152
0.846
0.629
0.476
0.286
0.058
-0.190
-0.424
-0.603
-0.758
-0.993
-1.223
-1.283
-1.453
-1.705
-1.785
-1.821
-1.834
-1.790
-1.748
-1.730
-1.606
-1.400
-1.155
-0.893
-0.631
-0.369
-0.135
0.088
0.298
0.483
0.612

The pendulum data recorded during the experiment is shown above. The tables only
contain the data the soccer balls displacement and velocity over time. The ball is
approximated 0.31metres away from the Go!Motion device before it is released. The
ball is approximated released at 0.25 seconds; therefore,

any data prior to this is ignored. As shown above, the ball travels a horizontal
distance of 1.73 metres away before swaying back towards the Go!Motion device.
Once the ball is released, the ball begins to increase in velocity before decelerating
to its max displacement and reaching a velocity of zero. Once it reaches its max
displacement, it beings to accelerate towards the Go!Motion device before
reaching a velocity of zero. These processes repeat themselves for 5 seconds.
Also, the length of the Christmas ribbon is 1.0 metres long.

Analysis and Discussion

Tim
e
(s)
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
0.30
0.35
0.40
0.45
0.50
0.55
0.60
0.65
0.70
0.75
0.80
0.85
0.90
0.95
1.00
1.05
1.10
1.15
1.20
1.25
1.30
1.35
1.40
1.45
1.50
1.55
1.60
1.65
1.70
1.75
1.80
1.85
1.90
1.95
2.00
2.05
2.10
2.15
2.20
2.25
2.30
2.35
2.40
2.45
2.50
2.55
2.60
2.65
2.70
2.75
2.80
2.85
2.90
2.95
3.00
3.05
3.10
3.15
3.20
3.25
3.30
3.35
3.40
3.45
3.50
3.55
3.60
3.65
3.70
3.75
3.80
3.85
3.90
3.95
4.00
4.05
4.10
4.15
4.20
4.25
4.30
4.35
4.40
4.45
4.50
4.55
4.60
4.65
4.70
4.75
4.80
4.85
4.90
4.95
5.00

R
(m)
0.310
0.310
0.310
0.306
0.309
0.310
0.315
0.327
0.349
0.383
0.430
0.494
0.572
0.668
0.809
0.899
0.984
1.084
1.176
1.277
1.370
1.437
1.507
1.592
1.632
1.671
1.704
1.721
1.730
1.725
1.715
1.688
1.650
1.604
1.543
1.476
1.410
1.323
1.232
1.138
1.054
0.938
0.840
0.740
0.657
0.573
0.501
0.449
0.408
0.378
0.363
0.361
0.371
0.392
0.426
0.472
0.534
0.608
0.695
0.798
0.914
0.980
1.078
1.171
1.265
1.352
1.424
1.477
1.553
1.603
1.631
1.662
1.682
1.693
1.688
1.673
1.643
1.611
1.573
1.512
1.440
1.391
1.300
1.210
1.120
1.028
0.933
0.850
0.761
0.671
0.596
0.530
0.480
0.441
0.417
0.405
0.404
0.414
0.435
0.470

Vx
(m/s
)
-0.007
-0.012
-0.021
-0.003
0.037
0.090
0.197
0.359
0.574
0.825
1.114
1.441
1.787
2.167
2.170
1.905
1.878
1.902
1.905
1.845
1.629
1.461
1.432
1.204
0.884
0.697
0.488
0.269
0.049
-0.159
-0.385
-0.633
-0.844
-1.055
-1.245
-1.366
-1.541
-1.729
-1.821
-1.850
-1.975
-2.049
-1.963
-1.831
-1.672
-1.507
-1.239
-0.950
-0.700
-0.446
-0.181
0.072
0.311
0.555
0.811
1.083
1.353
1.618
1.865
2.019
1.865
1.761
1.848
1.833
1.754
1.568
1.344
1.267
1.152
0.846
0.629
0.476
0.286
0.058
-0.190
-0.424
-0.603
-0.758
-0.993
-1.223
-1.283
-1.453
-1.705
-1.785
-1.821
-1.834
-1.790
-1.748
-1.730
-1.606
-1.400
-1.155
-0.893
-0.631
-0.369
-0.135
0.088
0.298
0.483
0.612

x
(m)

y
(m)

-0.709
-0.709
-0.709
-0.713
-0.711
-0.709
-0.704
-0.692
-0.670
-0.636
-0.589
-0.525
-0.447
-0.352
-0.210
-0.120
-0.035
0.065
0.157
0.258
0.351
0.417
0.487
0.572
0.613
0.652
0.684
0.702
0.711
0.706
0.696
0.669
0.630
0.585
0.524
0.456
0.391
0.304
0.212
0.118
0.034
-0.081
-0.179
-0.279
-0.363
-0.446
-0.519
-0.571
-0.611
-0.641
-0.657
-0.659
-0.648
-0.628
-0.594
-0.547
-0.485
-0.412
-0.324
-0.222
-0.105
-0.039
0.059
0.152
0.245
0.333
0.404
0.457
0.533
0.584
0.612
0.643
0.662
0.673
0.669
0.654
0.623
0.592
0.553
0.492
0.420
0.371
0.281
0.191
0.101
0.009
-0.086
-0.170
-0.259
-0.348
-0.423
-0.489
-0.539
-0.578
-0.602
-0.614
-0.615
-0.606
-0.584
-0.549

0.295
0.295
0.295
0.299
0.296
0.295
0.290
0.278
0.258
0.228
0.192
0.149
0.105
0.064
0.022
0.007
0.001
0.002
0.012
0.034
0.063
0.091
0.127
0.180
0.210
0.242
0.271
0.288
0.296
0.292
0.282
0.256
0.224
0.189
0.148
0.110
0.080
0.047
0.023
0.007
0.001
0.003
0.016
0.040
0.068
0.105
0.145
0.179
0.208
0.233
0.246
0.247
0.239
0.221
0.195
0.163
0.126
0.089
0.054
0.025
0.006
0.001
0.002
0.012
0.031
0.057
0.085
0.111
0.154
0.188
0.209
0.234
0.251
0.261
0.257
0.243
0.218
0.194
0.167
0.130
0.093
0.071
0.040
0.018
0.005
0.000
0.004
0.014
0.034
0.062
0.094
0.128
0.158
0.184
0.202
0.211
0.212
0.204
0.188
0.164

Vy
(m/s
)
0.007

V
(m/s
)
0.010

K
(J/kg
)
0.000

U
(J/kg
)
2.890

E
(J/kg
)
2.890

0.012
0.022
0.003
-0.037
-0.088
-0.189
-0.329
-0.493
-0.646
-0.768
-0.837
-0.831
-0.757
-0.538
-0.262
-0.058
0.127
0.310
0.475
0.577
0.671
0.805
0.782
0.658
0.579
0.438
0.252
0.046
-0.151
-0.353
-0.545
-0.662
-0.734
-0.751
-0.692
-0.625
-0.539
-0.393
-0.220
-0.035
0.157
0.348
0.508
0.637
0.723
0.710
0.627
0.515
0.353
0.149
-0.060
-0.252
-0.425
-0.569
-0.672
-0.716
-0.692
-0.608
-0.457
-0.250
-0.054
0.114
0.283
0.428
0.525
0.574
0.662
0.693
0.573
0.473
0.386
0.243
0.050
-0.163
-0.351
-0.470
-0.537
-0.627
-0.676
-0.600
-0.538
-0.484
-0.345
-0.184
-0.017
0.144
0.304
0.461
0.573
0.626
0.614
0.544
0.423
0.264
0.100
-0.065
-0.218
-0.343
-0.427

0.017
0.030
0.005
0.052
0.126
0.273
0.487
0.756
1.048
1.353
1.666
1.970
2.296
2.236
1.923
1.879
1.906
1.930
1.905
1.728
1.608
1.643
1.436
1.102
0.906
0.656
0.369
0.067
0.219
0.522
0.836
1.072
1.286
1.454
1.531
1.663
1.811
1.863
1.863
1.976
2.055
1.994
1.900
1.789
1.671
1.428
1.139
0.869
0.569
0.234
0.094
0.401
0.699
0.991
1.275
1.531
1.759
1.961
2.070
1.881
1.762
1.851
1.855
1.805
1.654
1.461
1.429
1.344
1.022
0.787
0.613
0.375
0.076
0.251
0.550
0.764
0.929
1.174
1.397
1.416
1.550
1.773
1.818
1.830
1.834
1.795
1.774
1.790
1.706
1.534
1.308
1.046
0.759
0.453
0.168
0.109
0.369
0.593
0.746

0.000
0.000
0.000
0.001
0.008
0.037
0.119
0.286
0.549
0.916
1.388
1.941
2.635
2.500
1.849
1.765
1.817
1.862
1.814
1.494
1.293
1.349
1.031
0.607
0.410
0.215
0.068
0.002
0.024
0.136
0.349
0.575
0.827
1.057
1.172
1.382
1.639
1.736
1.736
1.952
2.111
1.988
1.805
1.600
1.397
1.020
0.648
0.377
0.162
0.027
0.004
0.080
0.244
0.491
0.813
1.172
1.548
1.923
2.142
1.770
1.552
1.714
1.721
1.630
1.367
1.068
1.021
0.903
0.522
0.310
0.188
0.070
0.003
0.031
0.151
0.292
0.432
0.690
0.976
1.003
1.201
1.571
1.653
1.674
1.682
1.612
1.573
1.602
1.454
1.176
0.855
0.547
0.288
0.103
0.014
0.006
0.068
0.176
0.278

2.891
2.893
2.928
2.905
2.892
2.841
2.725
2.526
2.237
1.882
1.461
1.033
0.626
0.218
0.071
0.006
0.021
0.122
0.331
0.622
0.894
1.243
1.764
2.057
2.368
2.653
2.822
2.905
2.860
2.763
2.514
2.193
1.853
1.453
1.080
0.780
0.464
0.223
0.069
0.006
0.032
0.159
0.389
0.667
1.028
1.421
1.753
2.042
2.279
2.408
2.425
2.340
2.170
1.914
1.598
1.230
0.868
0.530
0.244
0.054
0.008
0.017
0.114
0.299
0.558
0.837
1.085
1.510
1.845
2.050
2.293
2.458
2.554
2.516
2.385
2.138
1.901
1.637
1.270
0.908
0.701
0.394
0.180
0.050
0.000
0.036
0.142
0.333
0.612
0.920
1.252
1.545
1.806
1.976
2.064
2.073
2.002
1.846
1.610

2.891
2.894
2.928
2.906
2.899
2.878
2.843
2.812
2.786
2.798
2.849
2.974
3.261
2.719
1.920
1.771
1.838
1.984
2.145
2.116
2.187
2.592
2.795
2.663
2.778
2.868
2.890
2.907
2.884
2.900
2.863
2.767
2.679
2.510
2.252
2.162
2.103
1.960
1.804
1.957
2.144
2.147
2.195
2.267
2.425
2.442
2.401
2.419
2.441
2.435
2.429
2.420
2.414
2.404
2.411
2.402
2.416
2.453
2.386
1.824
1.559
1.731
1.835
1.929
1.925
1.905
2.106
2.413
2.367
2.360
2.481
2.529
2.557
2.547
2.536
2.430
2.332
2.326
2.246
1.911
1.901
1.965
1.832
1.724
1.682
1.648
1.715
1.936
2.067
2.096
2.108
2.092
2.095
2.079
2.078
2.079
2.070
2.022
1.888

The entire analysis data is shown above. The table includes the recorded data, x
and y positions, the velocities in all directions, kinetic, potential, and total
mechanical energy of the system. The comparison graphs versus time are shown in
the following pages. The rows highlighted in yellow were used in the sample
calculations section of this report.

Shown above is the R versus time and velocity in the x-direction graphs. As illustrated, the ball begins to
accelerate towards Rave and begins to decelerate once it passes Rave. The velocity is zero once it reaches Rmax and
continues to decelerate until it reaches Rave again. Once it reaches
Rave, it begins to accelerate until it reaches Rmin. These processes repeat themselves for five seconds. Note that Rmin
= 0.309m, Rmax = 1.730m, and
Rave = 1.019m in this experiment. The calculations are shown in the Sample Calculation section of the report.

x vs. t
0.800

0.600

0.400

Horizontal
Postion (m)

0.200

0.000
0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

3.50

4.00

4.50

5.00

-0.200

-0.400

-0.600

-0.800

t (s)

The horizontal position versus time graph is shown above. It can be seen that the ball starts approximately
0.709m away from the equilibrium position in the x-direction. Similarly, the ball will travel approximately 0.709m
away from the equilibrium. Therefore, the ball travels approximately a distance of 1.480m in each interval. The
calculations to determine the horizontal position are presented in the sample calculation section of the report.

y vs. t
0.350

0.300

0.250

Vertical
Position (m)

0.200

0.150

0.100

0.050

0.000
0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50
t
(s)

3.00

3.50

4.00

4.50

5.00

The following graph shows the vertical position versus time. As shown, the vertical position graph only contains
positive values because the point of reference is taken at equilibrium position in the x-direction. At this point, the
ball reaches its lowest vertical position; as result, no negative values are to be seen. The maximum vertical
position is nearly 0.300m above the equilibrium position. The calculations to determine the vertical position are
shown in the sample calculation section of the report.

Vx, Vy & V vs. t

2.500
2.000
1.500
1.000
0.500
m/
s

0.000
0.00

Vx
0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

3.50

4.00

4.50

5.00

Vy
V

-0.500
-1.000
-1.500
-2.000
-2.500

t(s)

The velocity of the ball in all directions versus time is shown above. The ball travels in both the x- and y-direction. A
resultant velocity magnitude can be determined based on those values. Notice that the resultant velocity values are
only positive numbers because it contains only a magnitude and does not reference its direction. It can be seen the
ball is traveling its fastest when the velocity in the x-direction is at its highest and when velocity in the y-direction is
relatively small. The calculations to determine the velocities are shown in the sample calculation section
of the report.

K, U & E vs. t
3.500
3.000
2.500
2.000
K

J/k
g

1.500

1.000

0.500
0.000
0.00
-0.500

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

3.50

4.00

4.50

5.00

t
(s)

The kinetic, potential, and total mechanical energy versus time graph is shown above. As illustrated, all the forms
of energy begin to dissipate over time; therefore, it shows the principle of conservation of mechanical energy is
not achieved. As a result, energy is being dissipated into other areas of the experiment. The missing energy is
likely being transferred through the tension in the Christmas ribbon causing friction at connection point.
Therefore, conservation of energy is achieved but only the energy of the ball is being measured in this
experiment. Furthermore, the total mechanical energy value should relatively equal one another at each time
point in order to achieve conservation of mechanical energy. This principle is not fulfilled and is likely due to the
Go!Motion device. For instance, the device can record accurate results but contains an uncertainty in each value;
therefore, errors will increase in each calculation.
The experiment did show how the gravitational potential energy of the ball transferred entirely into kinetic energy
and back into potential gravitational energy. These processes repeated themselves throughout the experiment
showing how mechanical energy changes based on its vertical position and velocity of the system. Calculations to
determine the kinetic, potential, and total mechanical energy are shown in the sample calculation section.

Sample Calculations

Conclusion
In this experiment a pendulum, made from a soccer ball and Christmas ribbon, was
examined in order to further understand the Principle of Conservation of Mechanical
Energy. The Principle states that total mechanical energy in a system remains
constant as long as the only forces acting are conservative force; therefore, no
external forces are acting on the system.
In order to understand this concept, the horizontal position and velocity in the xdirection of the ball over time was determined during the experiment with the aid
of the Go!Motion device. With these values, the kinetic and gravitational energy of
the ball over time was determined. Results show that the system does not
conserve the total mechanical energy. The system likely converts some of the
mechanical energy into frictional energy. In addition, the experiment shows that
the gravitational potential energy of the system will transfer completely into kinetic
energy. Once this is achieved, the kinetic energy will transfer back into
gravitational potential energy. These processes repeated themselves throughout
the experiment, demonstrating how forms of mechanical energy transferred from
one another based on vertical position and velocity of the ball.
To improve this experiment the pendulum could be placed in a vacuum sealed
room where the ball will not experience wind resistance. In addition, the
experiment could be improved if the Go!Motion device provided more precise
results.

Questions
1

2. If a block is connected to a spring that is suspended from the ceiling, the

mechanical energy will transfer between three forms of energy. The system will
begin gravitational potential energy. The gravitational potential will transfer to
kinetic energy and elastic potential energy from the spring as it drops. Assuming
that force from the block and gravity does not exceed the elastic modulus of the
spring; the kinetic energy will transfer into elastic potential. Once spring reaches its
maximum displacement,
the block will travel upwards where the elastic potential energy will transfer into
kinetic and
gravitational potential energy. Gravity will cause block to reach a zero velocity
where kinetic energy will transfer into gravitational potential energy. These
processes will continue forever if air resistance is neglected.