29 Gravitational Potential Energy 29 - Page 1 of 5

Gravitational Potential Energy

Equipment

Includes:
1 Motion Sensor PS-2103A
1 Table Clamp ME-9472
1 90 cm Rod ME-8738
1 45 cm Rod ME-8736
1 Multi-Clamp ME-9507
Required, but not included:
1 Balance Scale SE-8723
1 Ball to Drop

Introduction

As the ball falls, the Motion Sensor measures both its position and velocity. Calculations are
made for gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy. This experiment explores the
relationship between potential and kinetic energy for a falling object.

Theory

When you drop a ball and it falls, the total energy of the ball stays constant if there is no air
resistance. The ball starts with all gravitational potential energy at the top, and converts the
potential energy to kinetic energy as it falls. At any time during its fall, the addition of kinetic
plus potential will be constant if the drag may be ignored. For an object in freefall, its velocity
(v) increases as its height (h) decreases. At any point in its fall, its potential energy (PE) can be
calculated using
PE=mgh
where m is the mass of the dropped object. Its kinetic energy (KE) can be calculated using
KE=½mv2

Written by Jon Hanks

29 Gravitational Potential Energy 29 - Page 2 of 5

Setup

1. You need a ball to drop. A diameter of 10 to 20 cm is ideal.

2. Attach the table clamp and 90 cm rod to the table, and use the 45 cm rod and multi-clamp
to suspend the Motion Sensor out over the floor as shown in Figure 1.

3. You want the Motion Sensor to be at least 1.5 m off the floor, and as far from the edge of
the table as possible.

4. Plug the sensor into the interface. In PASCO Capstone, set the sample rate to 40 Hz.
Create a graph of Position vs. Time.

5. Set the Range Switch on the Motion Sensor to the "cart" setting. This should work the
best, but if you have trouble try switching to the "people" setting. You must have
everything back out of the way, so the sensor sees only the ball or the floor. You can also
try adjusting the angle of the sensor.

6. Place the ball on the floor directly under the sensor and click on Record. If the data is not
smooth or if the distance is not approximately correct, try the suggestions listed above.

7. While recording, lift the ball up close to the sensor. Note that it cannot detect the ball
when it is closer than 15 cm. Drop the ball and then click on stop.

8. Practice until you can get data that is reasonably smooth and continuous, then delete all
your data.

Figure 1. Dropping the Ball

Written by Jon Hanks

29 Gravitational Potential Energy 29 - Page 3 of 5

Procedure: Height

1. Click on Recording Conditions in the Experiment Control Bar and set the Start Condition
to Measurement Based for Position when it rises above 0.20 m. Set the Stop Condition to
Measurement Based for Position when it is above 1.20 m.

2. Hold the ball close (~10 cm) to the sensor and click on Record. Data will not be collected
until you release the ball and it has moved to more than 20 cm from the sensor.

3. An automatic stop condition halts data collection when the ball reaches a distance of 1.2
m. These values can changed if needed.

4. Get one good run of position data.

5. Open the Calculator in Capstone and create the following calculations:

h = 1.5-[Position] with units of m

PE = m*g*h with units of J
m = 0.100 with units of kg
g =9.8 with units of m/s2
v = derivative(5,[Position],[Time]) with units of m/s
KE = 0.5*m*v² with units of J
Total=[PE]+[KE] with units of J

6. Look at the height (h) calculation. It subtracts the position of the ball (measured from the
sensor) from 1.5 m, thus creating a measurement that is referenced to the floor.

7. Click on Position in the vertical axis of your graph, and pick "h" from the pull-down
menu. Now you have a graph of the height of the ball as a function of time. You can
change the value of 1.5 m in the calculator if you want, to adjust the zero value for your
data.

8. Examine the graph of height. What happens to the height of the ball as time proceeds?
Measure the initial height off the graph and record it.

Potential Energy:

9. Open the Calculator window and look at the potential energy (PE) calculation. It assumes
a mass (m) of 0.1 kg, but you can measure the mass of the ball and change it in the
calculation.

10. Create a graph of PE (potential energy) vs. Time. Measure the initial value off the graph
and record it.

Written by Jon Hanks

29 Gravitational Potential Energy 29 - Page 4 of 5

11. Using the initial height from the h vs. t graph, calculate the initial potential energy and
confirm with your measured value off the graph.

12. What happens to the potential energy of the ball as time proceeds?

13. Click on "time" in the horizontal axis of your graph, and pick "h" from the pull-down
menu. Now you have a graph of potential energy vs. the height of the ball. How does the
potential energy of an object depend on its height?

Kinetic Energy:

14. Create a graph of the speed of the ball vs. time. Measure the initial speed of the ball off
the graph, and calculate the initial kinetic energy.

15. Use the pull-down menu on the vertical axis to change to the graph of kinetic energy
(KE). What happens to the kinetic energy of the ball as time proceeds?

16. Measure the initial kinetic energy off the graph and confirm with the value you
calculated.

17. Click on "time" in the horizontal axis of your graph, and pick "v" from the pull-down
menu. Now you have a graph of kinetic energy vs. the speed of the ball. How does the
kinetic energy of an object depend on its speed?

18. Click on the horizontal axis of your graph, and pick "h" from the pull-down menu. Now
you have a graph of kinetic energy vs. the height of the ball. How does the kinetic energy
of the ball depend on its height?

Total Energy:

19. Create a graph of kinetic energy (KE) vs. time and use Add Similar Measurement to add
potential energy (PE) and the Total (energy). In general, what happens to the potential
and kinetic energies as the ball falls?

20. The total energy (KE + PE) is also shown on this graph. In general, what happens to the
total energy as the ball falls?

21. Is the graph of total energy what you expected? In general, how would this graph change
if you could add in more air drag?

22. Click on the horizontal axis of your graph, and pick "h" from the pull-down menu. Now
you have a graph of total energy vs. the height of the ball. How does the total energy of
the ball depend on its height?

Written by Jon Hanks

29 Gravitational Potential Energy 29 - Page 5 of 5

Work and Energy:

23. Use the Position vs. Time graph. Take another run of data, but now start with the ball
about 1 m below the Motion Sensor. Note you must remove the start condition so data
collection will start immediately.

24. With data being collected, lift the ball up so that it is about 20 cm from the sensor. Hold it
there for a second or two, then drop it. Data collection should stop automatically as
before.

25. If the data is too noisy, try again. Get a single good run.

26. Note the time when the ball was dropped.

27. Click on "Position" in the vertical axis of your graph, and pick "Total" from the pull-
down menu. You now have a graph of the total energy of the ball.

28. Is the total energy of the ball constant as it is being lifted? Where does the energy come
from?

29. Examine the graph of total energy just before and after it is dropped. What do you see?

Written by Jon Hanks