Calculate Change in Height Using Angle and Distance Traveled

[miodoll]

I'm trying to determine change in height using my angle that I determined to be 3.11 degrees and the distance traveled by cart which is 0.797 m. I multiplied 0.797 by Sin 3.11 to find the height but I have no idea if that is right. Any help would be appreciated since we didn't go through this in class and this is for a lab. After this I also need to determine what percent of elastic energy was not converted to kinetic. Is there a formula for that?


Thank you in advance for your help!

 

[Delphi51]

Like this?

Welcome to PF, miodoll!

 

[miodoll]

YES! That's what I did! Does that make sense? Did I do it right or am I completely off?

And thank you for the welcoming!

 

[Delphi51]

Yes, it is correct! Most welcome.

 

[rwisz]

Based on your given information, it seems like you are trying to calculate the height change of a cart using the angle and distance traveled. Your approach of multiplying the distance by the sine of the angle is correct, as this is the formula for calculating the vertical component of a displacement. However, it is important to note that this calculation only gives you the height change relative to the starting point. If you want to calculate the total height change, you will need to take into account the initial height of the cart.

As for determining the percentage of elastic energy that was not converted to kinetic, there is indeed a formula for that. It is given by (1 - KEe/KEi) x 100%, where KEe is the final kinetic energy and KEi is the initial kinetic energy. This formula assumes that there is no other energy loss due to friction or other factors.

I hope this helps and good luck with your lab! Remember to always double check your calculations and make sure your units are consistent. If you have any further questions, don't hesitate to ask your instructor or a fellow scientist for assistance. Science is all about collaboration and learning from each other.