From the left table of contents click on:
Conservation of Energy in a Spring-Mass System
You may want to listen to the Audio Intro before you start with the simulation.
PART 1. SPRING CONSTANT
- Set the mass at 5 kg and click PLAY
- Collect the necessary data to calculate the Spring Constant (k).
Show all your work.
PART 2. INITIAL VELOCITY = 0 m/s
Click RESET and CLEAR TRACE and use the STEP FORWARD button to collect the following data:
- Step forward the animation to x = 0 m
- Read and record the following values:Velocity (from the velocity-time graph), Translational KE, Spring PE, Gravitational PE and Total Energy
- Step forward the animation to x = - 0.5 m
Read and record the following values:Velocity (from the velocity-time graph), Translational KE, Spring PE, Gravitational PE and Total Energy
- Step forward the animation to x = 0.5 m
Read and record the following values:
Velocity (from the velocity-time graph), Translational KE, Spring PE, Gravitational PE and Total Energy
ANALYSIS AND CALCULATIONS
1. What kind(s) of energy is present initially?
2. Write the equation(s) and calculate the initial energy.
3. When the displacement is zero (x = 0), what kinds of energy are present?
4. Write the equation of the total energy (when x = 0) and calculate its value.
5. From the equation above, solve for the velocity (show all your work).
6. When the displacement is at a maximum (x = - 0.5 m), what kinds of energy are present? 7. How will the equations compare if the displacement was x = 0.5 m?
8. Write the equation of the total energy (when x = -0.5 m) and calculate its value.
9. How will the values compare if the displacement was x = 0.5 m?
PART 3. SET THE INITIAL VELOCITY = 1 m/s
Repeat steps the procedure and answer the same questions for the new set of data.
CONCLUSIONS
1. How well do the data and results agree with the graph? Give a detailed explanation.
2. How do the values of Spring PE, Translational KE, Gravitational PE and Total Energy compare with the change of initial velocity? Explain.
3. If the initial velocity is zero, how will the values of Spring PE, Translational KE, Gravitational PE and Total Energy compare
if the mass was doubled?
