Experiment 7 72

Kuwait University Physics Department

Physics 105 & 125

Conservation of Mechanical Energy

Objectives
The goal of this experiment is to set a Mini-car in motion from rest on a step downhill
like track and investigate the conservation of mechanical energy of this car at various
points along the track. This track includes a circular loop configuration as well as a
straight flat portion. The height from which the car must be released from rest on
the downhill step so that it can just barely complete the loop can be predicted from
conservation of energy and the centripetal acceleration. Furthermore, calculation of
the normal force acting on the car at the top of the circular loop is carried out.

Equipments:
• Roller coaster complete system.

• Measuring devices: metric ruler.

• Photogate heads connected to smart timer.

Theory
Mechanical energy E is defined as the sum of both kinetic energy K and the potential
energy U of all objects or particles in a given physical system.

E= K +U
Experiment 7 73

The mechanical energy of any physical system is conserved provided if the system
is isolated. This implies that the total amount of mechanical energy of the moving
particles of the system is not subject of any changes as long as the system is isolated
(i.e.; free of all frictional and other non-conservative forces). A decrease or increase in
the kinetic energy of the system is accompanied by an equal increase or decrease in its
potential energy. Thus kinetic and potential energies are transformed into each other
during the motion of the particles of the system in such a way that the mechanical
energy remains unchanged.

The expression of conservation of mechanical energy at any point on the roller coaster
track can be written simply as:
Ei = Ef
Ki + Ui = Kf + Uf
1 2 1
mvi + mghi = mvf2 + mghf (1)
2 2
Where i and f both represent the initial and final state of the moving particles. In
the presence of Non-conservative forces such as friction, initial and final mechanical
energy will not be the same which leads to the fact that

ΔE = Ef − Ei = Wfriction
In this experiment (Figure 1), a single particle (Mini-car) is released from rest on the
top of the hill at point (A), reaches the bottom of the hill at point (B), it then goes
through a single vertical circular loop (B) and to a straight segment from (D) till it
reaches point (E).

Figure 1. Experimental setup of the roller coaster.

Experiment 7 74

The Normal force (N) acting on the Mini-car at the top of the circular loop (C) is
calculated from Newton’s second law along the y-direction:

Fy = m a c
Where (Fy ) represent the sum of all y components of the existing forces acting on the
car, and (ac ) is the centripetal acceleration of the moving car in a uniform circular
motion. Therefore;
v2
N + mg = m
⎛
R⎞
2
v
N = m ⎝ − g⎠ (2)
R

Procedures
1) Configure the track as shown in Figure 2. The photogate heads should be
attached to the bottom of the hill (point B), the top of the loop (point C), and
to the straight portion of the track at (point D) and (point E).

2) Put the catcher at the end of the straight part of the track to keep the car from
going off the end of the track.

Figure 2. Experimental Board with Loop setup and photogate heads attached.
Experiment 7 75

3) Place the Mini-car at the top of the step on the left (Point A). Mark on the
white board where you release the car. Measure the initial height (hA ) of the
car from the table to the center of mass of the car. Note that the center of mass
of the car is approximately at the slot where the flag is inserted.

4) Place the Mini-car at the top of the loop from the inside (Point C). Hold the
car with one hand and Mark on the position of the center of mass of the car
on the white board. Measure the radius (R) of the loop and the distance (hC )
from the center of mass of the car at the top of the loop to the table.

5) Place the car at the bottom on the flat part of the track (Point D) and measure
the height (hD ) of the car from the table and repeat the measurement at (Point
E) in order to measure (hE ).

6) Attach the photogate head to the photogate

bracket, and use the wing nut to attach the
bracket onto the photogate threaded rod.
at points (B), (C), (D) and (E) along the
track.(Figure 2).

7) On smart timer-1, Connect the jack of photogate (B) to the input channel 1.
Also, Connect the jack of photogate (C) to the input channel 2.

8) On smart timer-2, Connect the jack of photogate (D) to the input channel 1.
Also, Connect the jack of photogate (E) to the input channel 2.

9) On the touch pad keys of both smart timers:

* Press the Select Measurement (# 1 RED) key until you read “SPEED”
the top line of the display.

* Press the Select Mode (# 2 BLUE) key until you read “COLLISION”
the top line of the display.
Experiment 7 76

* In order to measure the velocity of the moving Mini-car at points (B), (C)
(D) and (E), Press the Start/Stop (# 3 BLACK) key then release the
car from the top of the step hill on the left (Point A). When the car reaches
the catcher, Press the Start/Stop (# 3 BLACK) key once again to stop
the timer. The displayed result of the velocity at point (B) and (C) on
Smart Timer-1 and the velocity at point (D) and (E) on Smart Timer-2
respectively are of the following format:
1: XX.X , 00.0 (cm/s) ← [press (#1) or (#2)] → 2: YY.Y , 00.0 (cm/s)

10) On the data sheet, record the results of velocities on the left side of the data
Table, and calculate the total mechanical energy at of the moving car.

11) Repeat this entire experiment but with additional mass piece added to the
Mini-car. Record your readings on the right side of the data Table.
Kuwait University Physics Department
Course / section: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Date:
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Student Serial Number:

Experiment ( ) : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
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Student name: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Student number: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Instructor name: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Partners: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
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Total Mark
Experiment 7 77

Kuwait University Physics Department

Physics Lab 105 & 125 Student Number:
Student Name: Date:

Conservation of Mechanical Energy

Objectives:
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Table 1 . Conservation of Mechanical Energy .

R=…… ( ) m car = …………………… ( ) m car + m steel = …………………… ( )

Experiment 7

Point A Point B Point C Point D Point E Point A Point B Point C Point D Point E

height (h ) h A = h B = h C = h D = h E = h A = h B = h C = h D = h E =
( )
velocity (v ) v A = v B = v C = v D = v E = v A = v B = v C = v D = v E =
( )
P.E. (U) U A = U B = U D = U E = U A = U B = U D = U E =
( )
K.E. (U) K A = K B = K D = K E = K A = K B = K D = K E =
( )
Mechanical EA= EB= ED= EE= EA= EB= ED= EE=
Energy (ME)
( )
‫ ܣܧ‬െ ‫ܤܧ‬ ‫  ܦܧ‬െ ‫ܧ ܧ‬ ‫ ܣܧ‬െ ‫ܤܧ‬ ‫  ܦܧ‬െ ‫ܧ ܧ‬
Ψ‫ ݐݏ݋݈ܧ‬ൌ ൈ ͳͲͲ Ψ‫ ݐݏ݋݈ܧ‬ൌ  ൈ ͳͲͲ Ψ‫ ݐݏ݋݈ܧ‬ൌ ൈ ͳͲͲ Ψ‫ ݐݏ݋݈ܧ‬ൌ  ൈ ͳͲͲ
‫ܣܧ‬ ‫ܦܧ‬ ‫ܣܧ‬ ‫ܦܧ‬
Percentage
of Total
Energy lost
78
Experiment 7 79

Kuwait University Physics Department

Physics Lab 105 & 125 Student Number:
Student Name: Date:

Conservation of Mechanical Energy

Questions:
The following questions are related to the part of the experiment when the Mini-car
Only was used:

1 - Calculate the amount of work done by friction on the moving car as it travels from
point (A) to (B), and from point (D) to (E).
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2 - Compare your results for the former question and state which trip has larger
friction and why?
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3 - Calculate the normal force acting on the Mini-car as it passes through the top of
the circular loop at point (C) from the inside.
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Experiment 7 80

Kuwait University Physics Department

Physics Lab 105 & 125 Student Number:
Student Name: Date:

Conservation of Mechanical Energy

4 - What is the speed of the car at point C (vC ) in order to have zero normal force
acting on it at this point?
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5 - What should be the minimum Height (hA ) the car has to start from at point A in
order for it to have zero normal force when it reaches the top of the circular loop at
point C ?
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6 - Compute the normal force acting on the car at point (B) and at point (C).
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7 - Compute the centripetal acceleration of the car (ac ) of the moving car as it moves
in a uniform circular motion in the loop.
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Experiment 7 81

Kuwait University Physics Department

Physics Lab 105 & 125 Student Number:
Student Name: Date:

Conservation of Mechanical Energy

Questions:
The following questions are related to the part of the experiment when the Mini-car
and 50g mass piece were used:
1- How does increasing the mass of the car change the total mechanical energy at
points (A) and (B)?
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2- How does increasing the mass of the car change the speed of the car at points (B)
and (C)?
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3 - Does the car lose a greater percentage of its energy when it has the extra mass or
not?
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Experiment 7 82

Kuwait University Physics Department

Physics Lab 105 & 125 Student Number:
Student Name: Date:

Conservation of Mechanical Energy

Discussion and Conclusions:

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