PHYS156

PHYSICS LABORATORY

GROUP : GROUP D
EXPERIMENT DATE : 08/04/2023
EXPERIMENT NO : EXPERIMENT 4
EXPERIMENT NAME : CONSERVATION OF THE MECHANICAL ENERGY

STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN THE EXPERIMENT

STUDENT NUMBER NAME SURNAME

21115052019 BERKİN DANACIOĞLU
21115052009 SEVİLAY BAYRAKLI
21113032020 ARDA AKSAKAL
21115052031 BARAN AKBAŞ
22115052046 ALPEREN RAGIP SÖYLER
Purpose of Experiment:
The purpose of this experiment is to verify the conservation of mechanical energy
principle in a real-world scenario by comparing the initial and final mechanical energies of a
system, accounting for any energy loss due to non-conservative forces.

Theoretical Information:
The principle of conservation of energy in mechanics states that the total energy of a
system remains constant, even as it undergoes various transformations such as potential to
kinetic energy or vice versa. This fact can be mathematically expressed using the following
formula:

𝐸 = 𝐾 + 𝑈

where E represents the total energy of the system, K represents the kinetic energy, and U
represents the potential energy. According to the principle of conservation of energy, the total
energy of the system (E) should remain constant throughout the experiment, even as K and U
change.

To experimentally test this theory, one could set up a simple system consisting of a
pendulum. The pendulum can be released from a certain height (h) and allowed to swing back
and forth. At any given point in the pendulum's motion, its total energy (E) can be calculated
using the formula above. This total energy can then be broken down into its kinetic (K) and
potential (U) components using the following formulas:

1
𝐾 = 𝑚𝑣
2

𝑈 = 𝑚𝑔ℎ

where m is the mass of the pendulum, v is its velocity, and g is the acceleration due to gravity.

By measuring the pendulum's total energy (E), as well as its kinetic (K) and potential
(U) components at various points in its motion, one can verify that the principle of conservation
of energy holds true. Specifically, the total energy of the system (E) should remain constant,
even as K and U change. This fact can help demonstrate the validity of the principle of
conservation of energy in mechanics and provide a basis for further experimentation and study.
Preliminary Questions:
1. Explain the conservation of the mechanical energy?

The overall mechanical energy of a system remains constant even if the energy is changed
between different forms, according to the conservation of mechanical energy, a fundamental
tenet of physics. Kinetic energy (energy of motion) and potential energy (energy of position) in
a system are combined to form mechanical energy.

The principle of mechanical energy conservation states that a system's total mechanical
energy must be conserved, meaning it cannot be created or destroyed but can only be changed
from one form to another. For instance, the position of an object in relation to the gravitational
field of the Earth causes it to gain potential energy when it is raised to a given height. Then, if
the object is released, the potential energy is transformed into kinetic energy as it falls, and the
total amount of potential and kinetic energy stays constant.

A fundamental law of nature, the conservation of mechanical energy is crucial to several

branches of physics, including mechanics, thermodynamics, and electromagnetic. Physics
experts can examine and forecast the behavior of mechanical systems like pendulums, springs,
and rolling objects by comprehending the conservation of mechanical energy.

Ultimately, the idea of mechanical energy conservation is a potent one that aids in our
comprehension of the fundamental properties of energy and how it is transformed in physical
systems. It is a fundamental tenet of physics that may be used to create structures and
technologies as well as comprehend the behavior of celestial bodies in space.

2. Explain the conservative and nonconservative forces, and give examples.

Conservative forces:

• Conservative forces are those forces whose work done in moving an object between two
points depends only on the initial and final positions of Conservative and nonconservative
forces are two types of forces used to describe how mechanical energy is conserved or not
conserved in a system. the object, and not on the path taken.

• When moving an object around a complete circuit, the work done by the conservative force is
zero.
Examples of conservative forces:

Gravitational force: The work done by gravity in moving an object depends only on the initial
and final heights, not the path. So, it's a conservative force.

Elastic force: The work done in stretching or compressing a spring depends only on the initial
and final elongations of the spring, not the process. So, it's a conservative force. •

Conservative forces preserve the total mechanical energy of the system. The work done by them
is converted into potential energy.

Nonconservative forces:

• Nonconservative forces are those forces whose work done in moving an object between two
points depends not only on the initial and final positions of the object but also on the path taken.

• Non-conservative forces do non-zero work when moving an object around a complete circuit.
Some energy is lost as heat or sound.

Examples of non-conservative forces:

Frictional force: The work done against friction depends on the path taken and is usually non-
zero in a complete circuit. So, it's a nonconservative force.

Drag force: The work done against air drag depends not only on the initial and final positions
but also on the shape of the path taken. So, it's a nonconservative force.

• Non-conservative forces do not preserve the total mechanical energy of the system. Some
energy is lost as heat or sound.

• The amount of energy lost depends on factors like surface roughness, velocity of motion, fluid
viscosity, etc.
Experimental Procedure, Data and Calculations:
1. We make the air table horizontal. The trace paper is placed on the air table.
2. A disc is set in the air table's corner. The 70 to 80 cm long thread that is connected to
the ring attached to the other end. The disc is inserted with the ring at the end of the
string.
3. It is kept near to the arc chronometer, the disc to which the string is attached. The air
pedal is depressed once the disc has been set onto the trace paper. It can be observed
that the disc has begun to move as a result of the mass.
4. By simultaneously depressing the arc pedal, the measurement is
taken.
5. The arc timer’s frequency value (𝑓) is set. 50 Hz was used as the
frequency value for this experiment.
𝑓 = 50 𝐻𝑧
6. On the tracing paper, the time (A) between two successive points
is calculated as follows:
1 1
𝐴 = = = 0.02 𝑠
𝑓 50
7. By observing the trace paper, it is determined whether the
pattern is determined as shown in Figure 1 or not.
8. On the trace paper, measurements and markings are produced.
The movement's starting point is marked on the tracing paper,
and the distances between each point and the starting point (x1,
x2, x3, etc.) are measured with a ruler and recorded there.
9. Each point's elapsed time (t) and square of the time (𝑡 ) are
computed and documented in the table. For points 1 and 2, it is
1 A and 2 A, respectively.

Figure 1
10. The x-𝑡 graph is drawn on millimeter paper using the table.

The slope of the graphic:

𝛥𝑥 𝑥 −𝑥 28 − 12 𝑐𝑚 𝑐𝑚
𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝛼 = = = = 45,4
𝛥(𝑡 ) 𝑡 − 𝑡 (61,6 − 26,4 ) 10 𝑠 𝑠

11. The acceleration of the disc from the slope of the graph is calculated by the slope
𝑐𝑚 𝑐𝑚
𝑎 = 2 𝑥 𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 = 2 𝑥 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛼 = 2 𝑥 45,4 = 90,8
𝑠 𝑠
12. After the disc acceleration is obtained, the speed of the disc at the end of the track is
found with the help of the timeless speed formula.
𝑣 − 𝑣 = 2𝑎 𝑥 − 𝑥
13. The locations of the start and finish of the tracks are indicated in the formula by the
letters 𝑥 and 𝑥 , respectively. If the disc begins to move from a stop, then 𝑥 = 0 and
𝑣 = 0.
14. So the quantity of 𝑥 − 𝑥 will be the distance between the first and last trace.
∆𝑥 = 𝑥 − 𝑥 = 49.5 𝑐𝑚
𝑐𝑚 𝑐𝑚
𝑉 = 2𝑎 𝑥 − 𝑥 = 2 𝑥 90.8 𝑥 (49,5 𝑐𝑚 ) = 6,36
𝑠 𝑠
 15. The following formulas depicts the disc and the mass that
is attached to the disc. Keep in mind that the distance
traveled by the disc on the air table corresponds to the
amount by which the height of the mass attached to the
disc has decreased.
𝑚 = 𝑚 = 525 𝑔 𝑚 = 𝑚 = 63 𝑔

16. The kinetic energy gained by the disc must match the potential energy lost by the mass
attached to it because mechanical energy must be constant. Let's examine whether
𝐸 − 𝐸 using the data obtained.
1 1
𝑚 𝑔ℎ = 𝑚 ⋅𝑉 + 𝑚 ⋅𝑉
2 2
𝑚
𝐸 = 𝑚 𝑔ℎ = (63 𝑥 10 𝑘𝑔) 9.8 ( 50 𝑥 10 𝑚) = 0.3087 𝐽
𝑠
𝑐𝑚 𝑚
6,36 = 0,0636
𝑠 𝑠
1 1 1 𝑚
𝐸 = 𝑚 𝜗 + 𝑚 𝜗 = (525 + 63 )𝑥 10 𝑘𝑔 ( 0,0636 ) = 0,00119 𝐽
2 2 2 𝑠
Accordingly, it is seen that 𝐸 ≠ 𝐸
17. If there is friction force (ff) in the system, the friction coefficient (μ) is found as follows.
If Newton's Second Law is applied to mass:

∑𝐹 = 𝑚 𝑎 → 𝑁 − 𝑚 𝑔 = 0 → 𝑁 = 𝑚 𝑔 is obtained.

𝐸𝑓 − 𝐸 = −𝑓 𝛥𝑥

1 1
( 𝑚 𝜗 + 𝑚 𝜗 ) − 𝑚 𝑔ℎ = − 𝜇𝑁∆𝑥
2 2
1
( 𝑚1 + 𝑚2 ) 𝜗 − 𝑚 𝑔ℎ = −𝜇𝑚 𝑔∆𝑥
2
1 𝑚 𝑚
(588 𝑥 10 𝑘𝑔) 0,0636 − (0,3087 𝐽) = − 𝜇 𝑥 525 𝑥 10 𝑘𝑔 𝑥 9,8 𝑥 0,495 𝑚
2 𝑠 𝑠
The friction coefficient is obtained as follows.
1
𝑚 𝑔ℎ − 2 ( 𝑚1 + 𝑚2 ) 𝜗
𝜇=
𝑚 𝑔∆𝑥
𝜇 = 0,0745
Comment:
The purpose of this experiment is to verify the conservation of mechanic energy
principal in real-world scenario by comparing the initial and final mechanical energies of a
system, accounting for any energy loss due to non-conservation forces. On a 50cm of high place
air table laid and height of air table is measured.Disc and mass linked each other with
rope.Frequancy arranged at 50 hz. The mass dropped at the same level of air table and route
that disc passed recorded. This route gives us to enough information for find out initial
mechanical energy. We observed exchancing kinetical energy from potential energy. According
to observations initial energy is 0.3087 Joule and this is also potential energy of mass ; final
energy of system is 0.00119 Joule.Also there is a inveitable friction coefficant, μ = 0.0745. In
the experiment we observed a loss of mechanical energy depending on various causes. One
distinct cause of loss is friction that ı specify the coefficent of it. Another cause is air resistance,
which can slow down the mass and reduce its energy. Wrong measurement or imperfect tools
can change the result. Also while system in motion some energy may turn into heat and voice
energy. This experiment helps validate the conservation of mechanical energy principle and
provides insight into the behavior of real-world systems under the influence of conservative
and non-conservative forces.

References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_energy

http://physics.bu.edu/~duffy/py105/EnergyConservation.html

https://www.sfu.ca/~mxchen/phys1011134/P101Lec0809.pdf
Appendices: