Forms of Energy Lab

Problem: How can we demonstrate energy transformations using a ramp and a toy car? How does the mass change the average speed of the car?

Initial Data: Define the following.

Potential Energy:

Kinetic Energy:

Hypothesis: (increase/decrease) 1. If we increase the ramp height then the potential energy will ______and the kinetic energy will ______. 2. If we increase the mass of the car, then the potential energy of the car will ______and the kinetic energy will ______.

Materials: Ramp Meter stick Toy Car 200g weight

Procedure: 1. Get in your lab group and gather materials. 2. Set up your ramp. 3. The toy car should start out at the top of ramp, its back wheels even with the top edge of the ramp. Make sure you always have the same starting point. 4. One group member should release the car without applying any extra force. 5. Another group member should use the meter stick to measure how far the car travels across the floor. Measure the distance traveled from the bottom of the ramp 6. Record the data. 7. Repeat steps 3-6 three times for each ramp height. 8. Add 200g mass to the car and repeat. Data Collected: I. Car without weight Ramp Height Distance Average Time Average Speed (cm) Car Distance Time Distance/Time Traveled (total divided (cm) by 3) 1 2 3 1 2 3 0 cm

II. Car with 200g weight added Ramp Height Distance Average Time Average Speed (cm) Car Distance Time Distance/Time Traveled (total divided (cm) by 3) 1 2 3 1 2 3 0 cm

III. Graph the ramp height versus the distance traveled. Label axis and give the graph a title. Results: 1. Draw the lab set-up and label the potential and kinetic energy. Use the following vocabulary: most potential, least potential, most kinetic and least kinetic.

2. What does the graph show you about the changes in the toy car’s potential and kinetic energy?

3. At what point on the ramp is the car’s kinetic energy equal to zero? Where is kinetic energy the greatest?

4. Where is the potential energy equal zero? Where is potential energy the greatest?

5. What happened to the energy when we added weight?

6. Did the mass allow the car to travel a farther distance? Explain.

7. What forces act on the car as it travels down the ramp?

Conclusion: 3,2,1 3 Things I learned, 2 things I want to know and 1 question I have. Extra Credit:

Increase height ------increase Potential Energy-----increase kinetic Energy

PE = mgh PE = (mass)(gravity)(height) PE = (mass)(9.8m/s)(height)

KE = ½ mv2

To find velocity of the car:

PE = KE Mgh = ½ mv2