Physics Lab

Work of a Sphere Lab

12/21/12

Physics 1H

Period B

Objective:

The objective of this lab is to experimentally verify that 71% of the energy of a ball in motion is due to translation.

Procedure:

1) Measure the height of the table to floor. Place ramp on table. Measure the height of the ramp. Place the ramp at the edge of the table. Align the paper with the edge of the table. Tape it down to the floor. Roll the ball off the ramp to figure out a general landing area of the ball. Put the carbon paper on the landing zone on the construction paper.

2) Roll the ball off the ramp, starting from the top. Repeat step 6 every .02m for a total of 10 trials. Measure the horizontal range of the ball.

3) Calculate the time to fall. Utilize the time to find the velocity at the bottom of the ramp. Calculate and graph (1/2v2) as a function of (gh). The m from both expressions cancels out. Find the slope of this curve. Find the percent difference compared to 71%.

Theory:

KEi + work= KEf

KE=1/2mv^2

KE=Iω^2

Work due to gravity = mgh

I for a sphere= 2/5mR^2

ω=v/R

Energy from translation: 71%

Energy from rotation: 29%

Data:

|Height (cm) |Distance (cm) |Velocity (m/s) |mgh |.5mv*v |

|20 |61.4 |1.53971 |1.962 |1.185362 |

|18 |58.5 |1.46699 |1.7658 |1.076034 |

|16 |55.4 |1.389255 |1.5696 |0.965015 |

|14 |51.3 |1.28644 |1.3734 |0.827464 |

|12 |46.7...