Twood+&+Mbizzle

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


 * Participants**: List the participants in this experiment.
 * 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**: Provide a short (one paragraph) description of what was done during this experiment. Supplement this description with images, video, etc. to make clear and interesting.


 * 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.

speed = distance / time || 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.
 * 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 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**: 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:


 * 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?
 * 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?
 * 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?
 * 5) The entrance to the loop?
 * 6) The exit of the loop?
 * 7) The back turn?
 * 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? How about with respect to time?


 * Conclusion**: A good conclusion will include:
 * A restatement of the purpose of the lab.
 * 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.//