Ball Drop lab
This project involved dropping a ball from a designated height then calculating the potential energy of the ball before falling and finding out if all the energy is conserved as the potential energy is converted into work kinetic energy and thermal.
to do this we had to set up ways of measuring the ball as it falls. We did this by marking out 4 sections of 0.5 meters.Then we timed how long it took for the ball to fall from 2 meters through each of these 4 sectors. With the measurements of distance (meters) and time (seconds) we were able to calculate the following;
Resources for Calculations:
Constants: mass= 0.048 kilograms radius of ball= 0.0374 m Area= 0.0044 m
Velocity: distance /time
potential energy: mass *acceleration due to gravity * change of distance
kinetic energy: 1/2 M*v^2
Work: F*change of distance
Thermal energy(air resistance) : 1/4 P*A*v^2
Procedure (Order of steps):
Remember multiple trials, multiple data gathering points
1.hold ball above ground at 2 meters
2. Start stop watch and start recording
3. .drop ball and record time for it to fall through each of the 4 sections.
4. Find time through each distanced section
5.record time for 2m to 1.5 m
6. Record time for 1.5 m to 1.0 m
7.record time for 1.0m to 0.5 m
8.record 0.5m to 0 m.
9.repeat this trial (steps 1-8) and
10. With this data start calculating velocity for each sector.
To the left we see potential energy vs kinetic energy over time. Here we see clearly as the ball drops the potential energy quickly drops down while kinetic energy exerted increases over time.
To the left here is thermal energy over time. This showing how as the speed of the ball increases the air resistance and drag increases as well.
Video for our ball drop lab below.
Description of Project
First we recorded our data by measuring distance over time. Through this we were able to calculate our velocity data for all four sectors and see the increase further down. Using this along with the mass and area of the ball we were able to calculate the following; potential kinetic and thermal energy of the ball coming down using the equations ahead.
With this data we were able to organize it into a table and graphs and see the resemblance of how potential energy is converted into the other forces (kinetic work, thermal) and when added together we got quite close to our original potential energy.
Original potential energy= 0.9408 joules
Ending kinetic +work+thermal= 0.876 joules
Using this we found a missing 0.0648 joules equating to about a 6.9% energy missing.
This which we were able to assume falls under human error or timing as well as inefficient times due to our stopwatch only recording in the hundredths of seconds.
Due to this in the future we would use a more precise measuring device for recording time so that our energies would be more exact while also recording with a better camera at a better frame rate so we know exactly when the ball falls through each sector.
Content:
Throughout this unit we were able to learn about the following topics:
Velocity: used a lot of our kinematics movement and 2 dimensional motion we used the following equations to find distance time velocity or acceleration:
V= vi+a(t)
v^2=vi^2 +2a(Δx)
x=xi+vxi(t) + 1/2a(t^2)
acceleration:
A=F/m or when given velocity and distance
A=Δd/Δt
Free Fall:
acceleration due to gravity on earth = 9.8m/s^2
Forces:
Lots of forces can be found as all objects have are in different circumstances but on earth we always know there is:
Force of gravity downwards to the earth's core
Force Normal: if an object is at rest on a surface the object has a force normal pushing up on the object equal in magnitude to the weight of the object downwards.
Force friction: without friction no objects would stay in place and everything would be moving. theres different coefficients of friction between different surfaces as well as what state these objects are in. These states be whether the object is static(no motion) kinetic(sliding) and lastly rolling ( like a wheel).
Newtons Laws:
1st: an object in motion will stay in motion unless an outside force is acted upon it.
2nd: F=m*a
3rd: the force acted on an object is equal in magnitude to the force being applied on itself.
Friction: without friction no objects would stay in place and everything would be moving. theres different coefficients of friction between different surfaces as well as what state these objects are in. These states be whether the object is static(no motion) kinetic(sliding) and lastly rolling ( like a wheel).
air resistance:
TE=1/4pAv^²
Tension: Force net= weight of object - force of tension
Pulleys and masses:We learned a lot about pulleys and masses through Atwood's machines. Thee machines often consisting of a single pulley and two differently massed objects on either side of this roped pulley.
Circular motion: Acceleration centripetal= V^2/r
Gravity Orbits Fg= G*m1*m2/r^2
energy:
PE=mg△d : potential energy is the energy a ball carries at a certain ehight above the ground before falling while still at rest.
KE=1/2mv^2: kinetic energy is the energy an object has while in motion or while traveling at a velocity.
TE=1/4pAv^² : this is the air resistance energy that is worked to push against an object using P as the constant for air and A as the area of the object facing the wind.
Reflection:
Two things I learned about my self during this first semester of A.P physics are, One, it's very okay to fail this being a growth in character as i'm learning more about the learning curve and accepting it. And secondly, correcting these failures is the only way to improve one's self.This being a growth in conscientious learning as It's a new way of learning I've not only learned through this project through failure and accomplishment but throughout this semester as a whole. For some context I went int this class after a whole year away from conceptual physics and I forgot a lot of my previous knowledge. However as we tested more and more and I got back into practicing and failing going through the corrections to better learn by failures proved vital for not only growth but the learning process in general.
Two things I want to keep working on is adapting this work ethic and learning from my failures into more concepts in not only other classes but outside of class as well. This which also equates to conscientious learning as it's a new skill i'm just picking up but want to make sure I follow through with in the future. Its a new way of learning via just taking the leap trying the work, failing and picking your self back up, and feels like a great way to overcome challenges and obstacles and is a skill I look forward to using in my future. A second thing I look forward to working on is more physical engineering in my future. It's always been a topic and subject I enjoyed and I look forward to this class and many more taking me down this engineering path. This I would similarly equate to cultural competence as I want to continue to gain more understanding about this new subject and field of learning.