Lab Energy of a Tossed Ball_ALT

16 - 1 Physics with Vernier ©Vernier Software & Technology 6. If there are no frictional forces acting on the ball, how is the change in the ball’s potential energy related to the change in kinetic energy? PROCEDURE 1. Measure and record the mass of the ball you plan to use in this experiment. 2. Connect the Motion Detector to a digital ( DIG ) port of the interface. Set the Motion Detector sensitivity switch to Ball/Walk. Place the Motion Detector on the floor and protect it by placing a wire basket over it. 3. Open the file “16 Energy of a Tossed Ball” from the Physics with Vernier folder. 4. In this step, you will toss the ball straight upward above the Motion Detector and let it fall back toward the Motion Detector. This step may require some practice. a. Hold the ball directly above and about 0.25 m from the Motion Detector. Use two hands. b. Have your partner click to start data collection. c. Wait one second, then toss the ball straight upward. Move your hands out of the way after you release it. A toss of 0.5 to 1.0 m above the Motion Detector works well. You will get the best results if you catch and hold the ball when it is about 0.5 m above the Motion Detector. d. Verify that the position vs . time graph corresponding to the free-fall motion is parabolic in shape, without spikes or flat regions, before you continue. If necessary, repeat data collection until you get a good graph. When you have good data on the screen, proceed to the Analysis section. DATA TABLE Mass of the ball (kg) Position Time (s) Height (m) Velocity (m/s) PE (J) KE (J) TE (J) After release Between release and top Top of path Between top and catch Before catch If there are no frictional forces acting on the ball, the balls potential energy and kinetic energy will be the same 211 kg 0 43298 0 212m 0 9197m/s 0 4550 0950 545 0 699380 881m 2 4622mis 1 8650 4457 - 55 0 8991 1 867m -0 0785m/s 2 2556 5x10 2 255 1 1322s 0 800m-2 2407m/s 1 695 0 535 2 225 1 2987 0 313m-2 4957mis 0 6650 665 1 325

Comparing our energy graph predictions to the real data of the ball toss, our graphs were incorrect. Our data for the ball toss was more constant in kinetic and potential energy when the ball was in motion in the air.