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Lab1 Bungee - Final Report 1
Lab1 Bungee - Final Report 1
Lab1 Bungee - Final Report 1
𝑅(𝑥) = 𝑝𝐹 ( )
𝑥
𝑠
where x is the displacement of the rubber band, p is the number of 4 inch units in parallel and s is the
number of 4 inch units in series in our total chain. We will set the integral of 𝑅(𝑥) equal to the initial
potential energy of our system in order to solve for x, as in:
∆𝑥
𝑚𝑔ℎ = ∫ 𝑅(𝑥) 𝑑𝑥
0
where m is the mass we are given, h is the height we are given, and g = 9.81 m/s2.
Figure 3: 8 inch Fishtail Chain Acceleration Data Figure 4: 8 inch Double Chain Acceleration Data
Figure 6: 2ft Single Link Acceleration Data Figure 7: 2ft Double Chain Acceleration Data
Figure 8: 2ft Fishtail Chain Acceleration Data
Jumper:
Figure 9: Jumper, front face Figure 10: Jumper angled view; masses were
placed inside the ziplock bag
The jumper includes a cell phone which we have secured inside a plastic bag. We attach this bag to a carabiner
which attaches to the end of our bungee. This was connected in testing with a card holder to add additional weight.
Our additional mass of 752 grams was added in the form of screws and bolts and placed inside the ziplock bag.
Realistically, our calculations will not result in these two expressions being exactly equal to one another. Therefore,
we extracted the combination of parallel and series units which produces the minimum difference in the energy at
the top and the energy at the bottom. We calculate the maximum acceleration using the force equation, and finally
check to make sure the acceleration of this combination falls within the given range. It then outputs this
combination of parallel and series, along with the total length, which yields the overall configuration of the rubber
bands.
Looking at our actual results, we achieved a final test acceleration of 4.68g. From our code, we obtained theoretical
length values of an unstretched length of 44 inches. This includes 11 links (1 link = 4 in of rubber band) attached in
series along with 5 links attached in parallel. We chose to use a safety factor of 1 meter (~39.37 in), and achieved a
drop distance of ~32 inches from ground, per video recording estimation. The data from our official drop was not
saved by the accelerometer, so our acceleration data from a test drop from the same location moments before the
official drop, the following acceleration was recorded:
We expected to see the distance to ground to be equal to our safety factor of 1 meter, while experimentally seeing a
distance to ground that was shorter at ~32 inches. Thus, there are sources of error present causing our safety factor
to be greater than needed. Additionally, the bungee was expected to stretch 195 inches (7.091 meters - 1 meter
safety factor - 44 inch initial length). We were able to see an experimental stretched value of 203.17 inches,
stemming from 7.091 meters - 32 inches from ground- 44 inch initial length. Foremost, this disparity comes from
the fact that the code is generated off the next closest link to the theoretical optimized bungee length. With each
length equating to 4 inches, if assuming the maximum error in distance, this would be able to account for over half
of the difference in values. Had we chosen to define each link as the length of a singular rubber band, thus
quartering the length of one link, this error margin would be able to be decreased by a similar order of magnitude.
Additionally, with the bungee top being held at a height different from that of the exact measured drop height, the
resulting distance from the ground at maximum stretch will lead to a resulting offset in the values calculated.
In analyzing the given time and y-direction acceleration data from the accelerometer, it can be observed that
acceleration reached its peak at the time at which the bungee is at its maximum stretch. This can be verified from
theory, since acceleration will reach a maximum when the upward force on the jumper is at its peak. Since force
increases as stretch increases, acceleration must peak at the maximum upward force.
Appendix:
Figure 11: Line of best fit for single sink chain Figure 12: Line of best fit for double link chain yielding
yielding a k-value of 0.0429 N/mm. a k-value of 0.0991 N/mm.