Stacey,+Jen+and+Sara's+Roller+Coaster+Report

=  ​ ​ ​ Conservation of Energy on a Roller Coaster= Date of Publication (Date of Most Recent Edits)


 * Participants**: ​Stacey Schellong, Jen Grobe & Sara Binshadler
 * Purpose**: The purpose of this lab is to examine how mechanical energy (kinetic and potential energy) can be changed by outside forces.
 * Lab Documents** : [[file:Roller Coaster.doc]]


 * Brief Description of Experiment**: ​The purpose of this lab was to find different points of kinetic and potential energy along the track of the roller coaster.
 * Data**:





nclued a properly labeled graph showing the kinetic energy of the roller coaster car, the potential energy of the roller coaster car, and the total mechanical energy of the roller coaster car. Any additional graphs that you create to study energy conversions can also be included.


 * Data**: Inclued a properly labeled graph showing the kinetic energy of the roller coaster car, the potential energy of the roller coaster car, and the total mechanical energy of the roller coaster car. Any additional graphs that you create to study energy conversions can also be included.


 * Sample Calculations:** Describe or reproduce any calculations that are performed during the experiment (other than averaging). For this lab, you should show calculations for total velocity (if you used video analysis), potential energy, kinetic energy, and a calculation of one external force.

speed = distance / time || Describe the major result of the experiment and how you arrived at this result. Typically, this will refer back to the purpose. For example, if the purpose was to find the coefficient of friction, you would write: The coefficient of static friction was determined to be 0.45. This was calculated from a measured angle using Newton's first law as desribed in the calculations.
 * //Speed calculation// || The speed in meters per second was calculated by taking the measured distance in meters and dividing by the time elapsed in seconds.
 * Results**:


 * Lab Questions**:
 * 1) What external forces did you identify as removing energy from the roller coaster system? Into what form of energy do you think the mechanical energy was converted via these forces? One external force was the air. The air worked as friction against the kinetic energy of the roller coaster.
 * 2) What external forces did you identify as adding energy to the roller coaster system? From what form of energy do you think the mechanical energy was converted via these forces? Gravity was a large factor in adding energy to the roller coaster. Gravity added energy to the roller coaster when the coaster was dropping from the highest point.
 * 3) Break the motion of the coaster into 4 pieces as described below. What fraction of the total mechanical energy from the top of the coaster was lost in:
 * 4) The first big drop? .23/.53
 * 5) The entrance to the loop?.32/.53
 * 6) The exit of the loop? .31/.53
 * 7) The back turn?.42/.53
 * 8) At what point in the motion of the roller coaster was mechanical energy being dissipated (lost from the system) most quickly with respect to distance traveled?

Mechanical energy was being dissipated amost at the back of the turn.

The point of this lab was to measure and record points of the roller coaster of kinetic and potential energy. The expereament gave lots of useful information which provided many points
 * Conclusion**: A good conclusion will include:
 * A statement about whether you think that the experiment produced a valid and reproducible result and reasoning supporting your statement.
 * A suggestion as to why your experimental results differ from any accepted value or your expected result (if appropriate).
 * A suggestion for a simple improvement to the experiment. Think about what caused problems, measurement inaccuracies, or inappropriate simplifying assumptions and propose a change. A sketch may be helpful.

//Don't forget to link to your lab report from the lab reports page and to include a link to your lab report in your reflection.//