Conservation+of+Energy

=//Conservation of Energy //=

= =

Objective: Verify the conservation of energy with respect to kinetic and gravitational potential energy
**Simulation: ** media type="custom" key="17203514"

Data Collection Techniques/ Strategies
1. Click the Widget to open the simulation. 2. Choose the skater and record the mass. 3. Check the Boxes for "Potential Energy Reference" line and Grid. Click the box to display the "Energy v. Position" graph. Once the graph is open, click the box so that the "Thermal" line no longer appears on the graph. 4. As the skater moves, observe how kinetic energy, gravitational potential energy, and total energy change. Pause the skater at any point and calculate the velocity at that point using the total energy equation. Repeat with three data points. 5.Compare all values for total energy and velocity.

= = media type="file" key="Conservation_of_Energy.swf" width="360" height="270"

Graphical Analysis:
Look at the graph created by the simulation in order to compare the values for gravitational potential energy, kinetic energy, and total energy.

Analysis Questions:
1. Describe the behavior of the graph. 2. What is the relationship between gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy to total energy? 3. How would the gravitational potential energy change if the skater were on the moon? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">4. How would a change in mass affect the total energy of the skater?

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Percent Difference:
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">No difference is needed because there is no accepted value with which to compare. The computer simulation does not account for friction, so there will be no discrepancies between the total energy values.