Determine KE-PE in Inclined Plane Lab Experiment

  • Thread starter Thread starter Link
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Experiment
AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on a lab experiment to determine the conversion of potential energy (PE) to kinetic energy (KE) for a wooden block on an inclined plane. A suggested method involves allowing the block to glide down the incline, measuring the time to calculate velocity, and using the height to find the energy relationship. While the method is simple and requires minimal equipment, the accuracy may be compromised without accounting for friction, which affects energy transformation. Experimenting with different incline angles is recommended to observe variations in energy conversion percentages. The participant confirmed their experiment's results aligned with this method, expressing hope for accuracy and seeking further feedback.
Link
Messages
132
Reaction score
1
I have to do an labwork on how to determine experimentally how much of the potential energy of a wooden block is transformed into kinetic energy when it is gliding down an inclined plane.
My question is, how exactly should the experiment be conducted in the simpliest way with as few equipment as possible?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Just an idea, let it glide from the top to (close to) the bottom and calculate the time it takes for it to reach (close to) the bottom mark, this way you will have the velocity in the middle of the two points (since accelleration is constant) Then you have everything but the height which should be easily calculated.
mgh:mv^2/2
now you have v, h can be calculated and g is known, you should be able to get the relationship thus the how much is transformed into kinetic energy (%)
 
Do you think this method is accurate enough? Shouln't the friction be taken into consideration?
 
Depends, what grade are you in, have you worked with friction?
The method definitely isn't accurate but it takes little equipment and work, still it wouldn't be too hard to figure out (find) the friction coefficient and then include that in the model...
Then the experiment should be pretty accurate not considering air friction.
Also experiment with different angles on incline to see how this effects the relationship. Maybe the % is higher at a low angle due to lower velocity (lower air resistance) and so on...
All depends on how thorough the experiment should be and what you have learned so far
 
I conducted the experiment using some kinematic formulas and it turned out that i did not need to know the mass nor the friction.

The result is attached. I hope it is correct since it followed your method.

Thank you for the help!

I am in the 10th grade btw.
 

Attachments

Last edited:
Yeah then my layout should be good enough I think, I hope your teacher likes it and I hope I didn't ruing the "make something myself" part of the laboration for you =)
Be sure to let us know how the results were so if they weren't good enough we can provide you with more advice!

P.S Just realized how stupid my answer to the role of friction was, since friction is the cause of a relationship between potential and kinetic energy (it does not equal) it should not be included in the model :P
 
Last edited:
Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'

Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'

Starting with the mass considerations #m(t)# is mass of water #M_{c}# mass of container and #M(t)# mass of total system $$M(t) = M_{C} + m(t)$$ $$\Rightarrow \frac{dM(t)}{dt} = \frac{dm(t)}{dt}$$ $$P_i = Mv + u \, dm$$ $$P_f = (M + dm)(v + dv)$$ $$\Delta P = M \, dv + (v - u) \, dm$$ $$F = \frac{dP}{dt} = M \frac{dv}{dt} + (v - u) \frac{dm}{dt}$$ $$F = u \frac{dm}{dt} = \rho A u^2$$ from conservation of momentum , the cannon recoils with the same force which it applies. $$\quad \frac{dm}{dt}...
View full post »

Similar threads

Classic Incline problem with cylinder
Replies
13
Views
991
Which sphere reaches the bottom of the inclined plane first
Replies
19
Views
4K
Variable friction on an inclined plane and maximum velocity
Replies
33
Views
3K
Distance of box pushed up incline by spring
Replies
1
Views
3K
What is the displacement of a 3.0 kg block sliding down an inclined plane?
Replies
12
Views
2K
Elastic attached to a Car travelling down an inclined plane....
Replies
1
Views
1K
Mechanical energy of a wooden block sliding down an incline.
Replies
4
Views
4K
Spring, Block, KE, PE, Incline Problem: Why is KE=ZERO?
Replies
2
Views
3K
Acceleration down an inclined plane
Replies
5
Views
1K
D’Alembert Vs Conservation of Energy
Replies
3
Views
5K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top