YEAR 10 ENGINEERING PHYSICS:

Conservation of Energy PRAC

APPARATUS:

1. Ramp
2. Trolley/Cart
3. Tape
4. Camera
5. Laptop with tracker installed
6. Digital Scale
7. Meter Ruler

METHOD:

1. Set out equipment as shown in the diagram below.

2. Measure the height of the starting line from the ground, and the height of the finish line. Use the difference
of these heights as the ramp height in the table below. Additionally, measure & record the mass of the
trolley/cart with a digital scale.
3. Release the trolley/cart from the top of the ramp and record its motion with a camera. Make sure to not
obstruct the camera’s view.
4. Repeat Step 3 such that you end up with two results for the same height then continue onto step 5.
5. Change the height of the ramp, record the new height, and then repeat steps 3-4. Continue to repeat this
process until you end up with two results from 4 different heights.
6. Upload the footage obtained to the laptop and use tracker to measure the final velocity of the trolley (refer
to the tutorial video on daymap for assistance).
1
7. Using the equation 𝐸𝑘 = 𝑚𝑣 2 calculate the final kinetic energy of the trolley/cart.
2
8. Using the equation 𝐸𝑝 = 𝑚𝑔ℎ calculate the initial potential energy of the trolley/cart.
9. Calculate the percent difference between the potential and kinetic energy results, using the formula
𝐸𝑘
× 100.
𝐸𝑝

Results:
Ramp Time Taken (s) Average Velocity Kinetic Potential Energy Efficiency
Height (cm) Trial 1 Trial 2 time (s) (𝑚𝑠 −1 ) Energy (J) Energy (J) (percent difference)
Questions:
1. If the amount of kinetic energy was conserved as the trolley/cart rolled down the ramp, then how
should the amount of potential energy at the top of the ramp compare to the amount of kinetic
energy at the bottom of the ramp?

2. Based on your energy efficiency calculation, was mechanical energy conserved?

3. Where did the missing energy go?