Physics 211/221: Fall 2021

Work-Kinetic Energy Theorem

Figure 1.1. This picture shows a pendulum swinging back and forth. How does the work-kinetic
energy theorem manifest itself in this motion?

Equipment: Roughly spherical object of about 100 g, string, pivot point, camera, PJL video analysis
program

Goals of the Experiment: In this lab you will explore the work-kinetic energy theorem as it applies to
an object moving under the influence of gravity. In particular, you will analyze the transformation between
kinetic energy and the work done by gravity for a pendulum. You will use the data you collect to verify that
in the absence of dissipative forces, the work-kinetic energy theorem is satisfied.

Preparation: Sections 9.1–9.3 of “Physics for Scientists and Engineers,” R.D. Knight, 4th Ed.

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PART I - INDIVIDUAL

PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS

Answer all questions in “Laboratory 4 - Part I” Spreadsheet.

Kinetic Energy of an Object

Energy comes in different types. It can transform from type one to another but it cannot be created or
destroyed.

Question 1: What type of quantity (scalar or vector) is energy?

Question 2: What type of energy corresponds to the motion of an object?

Question 3: Can the kinetic energy of an object be negative? Why or why not?

Question 4: What is the kinetic energy of an object of mass m sitting at rest?

Question 5: What is the kinetic energy of an object of mass m traveling with speed v?

Question 6: What is the kinetic energy of an object of mass m traveling with a velocity ~v = vx î + vy ĵ?

Question 7: Since the Pythagorean theorem states that v 2 = vx2 + vy2 , we can write the kinetic energy as
K = 12 mvx2 + 12 mvy2 . Does this mean that kinetic energy is a vector with x- and y-components?
Explain.

Work Done by a Constant Force

Question 8: What type of quantity (scalar or vector) is work?

Question 9: What is the work done by a constant force F~ as an object is moved through a displacement
∆~r?

Question 10: Can the work done by a constant force be negative? Why or why not?

Question 11: What is the work done by the force of gravity F~g = −mg ĵ if an object is moved through a
horizontal displacement ∆xî?

Question 12: What is the work done by the force of gravity F~g = −mg ĵ if an object is moved through a
vertical displacement ∆y ĵ?

Question 13: What is the work done by the force of gravity F~g = −mg ĵ if an object is moved through a
general displacement ∆~r = ∆xî + ∆y ĵ?

Question 14: Consider the pendulum consisting of a string of length L and a small, spherical bob of mass
m at rest (with the ball at the maximum displacement, as shown in the Figure 1.2). Sketch a
free body diagram of the mass. This diagram will help with the following questions (15 - 17).

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Figure 1.2. A pendulum of consisting of string of length L and small, spherical ball of mass m at the
maximum displacement.

Question 15: The object is displaced from a position where the string is vertical to the position shown in
Figure 1.2. Does the force of gravity do any work on the object? Why or why not?

Question 16: Can the tension in the string do any work on the object as the object swings back and forth?
Why or why not? Think about the direction of motion of the object and the direction that
tension points.

Question 17: Based on your answers above, which force does the work to change the kinetic energy of the
pendulum bob as it swings back and forth?

Recording Your Video

General Tips for Making Video

• Choose a plain light back ground and a dark object to record.

• Place an object of known dimensions in the field of view. You will need this information to determine
your conversion factor.

• Find a way to affix your camera to a solid object or set it up in a stand. Do not try to hold it.

• Center the experiment in you camera’s view.

• Always take several takes.

• Start the camera, make sure it is recording, and then start your experiment.

• Use the first couple of seconds to voice important information about the take. For example, you could
say ”Take 1. Using the Golf Ball”.

• This may take longer than you think it should, but take your time and do the best you can. Time
invested at this point will pay off in the end.

Step 1: Choose your object. Try to choose an object that is roughly spherical. Find a softball or an
apple; don’t use something like a stick.

Step 2: Choose your pivot point. For your pivot point you will want something sturdy as you do not

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want it to move.

Step 3: Suspend mass from your pivot point. Attach a string to the object, and suspend the object
roughly 50 cm to 1 m from the pivot point. Make sure that the string is tight up against the pivot
point. You want to minimize how much the string slips.

Step 4: Record your video. Pull back your object to roughly 45 degrees from vertical, and release it. Let
it swing at least 5 times. Do not make the angle of release too large, as the tension in the string
may not be enough to provide sufficient centripetal acceleration.

Step 5: Record some variations. For your own satisfaction and to improve the understanding, try several
different variation of your experiment. Adjust the length of the string. What happens if you increase
the release angle? Maybe release it at 90 degrees and see what happens.

Step 6: Pick the best one. Select one video from your collection to upload for analyzing during the lab.

VIDEO ANALYSIS

Step 7: Transfer your video to a computer. Open a web browser and navigate to https://www.pjl.ucalgary.ca/.
Find the video analysis software under ”TOOLS”, and open your video in the web app.

Step 8: Just like in previous experiments, select the top, bottom, left and right edges of your reference
object (e.g. sheet of paper taped to the wall), and record the values in the spreadsheet. Record the
physical dimensions of the object in SI units. Use these values to calculate the conversion factor
from pixels to meters.

Data Collection

Step 9: Clear the data points from the table under your video analysis tool.

Step 10: Advance the video to the beginning of the object’s flight. Remember, the ”/|” and ”.|” buttons
move the video frame-by-frame, so adjust if you need to. Just like in previous experiments, click
on the object’s location in each frame to populate the table of values and map its trajectory in the
x − y pixel coordinates. In some frames the object may seem smeared or blurred. It is important
to consistently select the same part of the smeared image (e.g. the center) in order to obtain the
best results. Map all of the points during your object’s periodic motion. It is recommended to
collect data for a full period of oscillation (so until the ball comes back to its initial position and is
moving in the same direction.

Question 18: Comment on your precision in identifying the same point on your object in each frame. When
was it the easiest to identify the object? When was it the most difficult? How does that affect
precision of each measurement? Briefly justify your answer.

Step 11: Once you have populated the table of values with all the information you need, highlight the values,
copy them and paste them into the first three columns of the spreadsheet template provided for

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this lab.

CHECKPOINT 1: SUBMIT ANSWERS TO THIS PART TOGETHER WITH YOUR

PART II - GROUP WORK

This part of your laboratory will be completed in the group during the Thursday Session. The answers to this
part and the video you choose to analyze should be submitted by the end of the session to the “Thursday: Lab
2” Group Dropbox.

Step 12: Share your experiences from completing the experiment. Compare the videos and select one that
you will analyze as a group.

Step 13: Upload the video you chose to analyze to the “Laboratory 5” group Dropbox. Copy the conversion
factor data to “Table 1” and the (T ime, X, Y ) data to the first three columns of “Table 2” in the
“Laboratory 5 - Part II” spreadsheet. The rest of the table will be populated for you to save time.

The most convenient choice for the origin of the (x, y) coordinate system is at the lowest point in the object’s
trajectory, which is what you will use in the following questions. We will also use that point as a reference
for all measurements and calculations during the group analysis.

Work-Kinetic Energy Theorem in Pendulum Motion

Question 19: At which point(s) in the trajectory should the object have zero kinetic energy? Explain.

Question 20: At which point(s) in the trajectory should the object have the greatest kinetic energy?
Explain.

Question 21: How much work Wup should be done by the force of gravity as the object swings from its
lowest point at (0, 0) to its highest point located at (x1 , y1 )? What is the sign of the work?
Explain why.

Question 22: How much work Wdown should be done by the force of gravity as the object swings from its
highest point at (x1 , y1 ) to its lowest point at (0, 0)? What is the sign of the work? Explain
why.

Question 23: How much work should be done by the force of gravity as the object swings from its lowest
point, to its highest point, then back to its lowest point?

The Excel template calculates the kinetic energy KE at each point, the change in object’s kinetic energy
∆KE between the lowest point (0, 0) and that point, as well as the work done by the force of gravity as the
object is displaced from the lowest point to that location W . The ability to define the gravitational work in

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this way is a consequence of the immediately preceding questions.

Question 24: Based on your data, at which height does the object have zero kinetic energy? How does this
compare with what you expected in Question 19?

Question 25: Based on your data, at which height does the object have the greatest kinetic energy Kmax ?
What is the value of Kmax ?

Question 26: Taking the lowest point as the initial point and the highest point as the final point, what is
the value of ∆K = Kf − Ki ? Is this positive or negative? Explain why.

Question 27: Based on your data, what is the work W done by the force of gravity as the object goes from
this initial point (0, 0) to this final point? Note: since work is defined relative to the lowest
point, the value you are looking for is just the work at the highest point.

Question 28: Using your results from Questions 26 and 27, is the work-kinetic energy theorem satisfied?
Explain.

Step 14: On the same diagram, create a graph of W and ∆KE as a function of horizontal position x.

Question 29: Based on your data and the generated graphs in the Excel template, is the work-energy
theorem satisfied for a pendulum motion? Justify your answer.

Question 30: Discuss within the group conditions/reasons that would cause work-energy theorem not to be
satisfied for the pendulum motion. Share your thoughts.

FINAL CHECKPOINT! Before being dismissed from the lab, discuss your results as a group,
STOP then have your TA evaluate your answers. Be sure to upload your video and your spreadsheet
before leaving the online room.

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