Experiment 4: Work, Power and Energy

Laboratory Report

Christopher Allan Tan, Charisse Christine Tomimbang, Christian Paul Torres,

Jairah Mae Vea, Janna Vernice Villalon, Cyd Vincent Zamora

Department of Biological Sciences College of

Science, University of Santo Tomas Espaa,
Manila Philippines

Abstract In physics, we describe power as the

In this experiment, the members of the
groups force and power used in descending
and ascending a measured vertical distance
were measured. Their computed weight (in
N) was put into consideration as well. The
group also computed for the potential
energy versus time of a ball in free fall as well
as the kinetic energy versus time of the same
ball thrown vertically from a height of
50 cm, neglecting air resistance.
time rate at which work is done. Like work
and energy, power is a scalar quantity.
Wherein the SI unit of power is Watt (W),
named for the English inventor named Watt.
For this experiment, the
experimenters aim to demonstrate the
conservation of mechanical energy, to
measure change in kinetic and potential
energy as a ball moves free fall and as to
determine the power output when going up
and downstairs.

1. Introduction 2. Theory

Work is defined as in, any motion; the
total work done on a particle by all forces
that act on it equals the change in its kinetic
energy a quantity that is related to the
particles speed. This relationship holds
even when the forces acting on the particle
arent constant.
You do work by exerting a force on a
body while that body moves from one place
to another, that is, undergoes a
displacement. You do more work if the force
is greater or if the displacement is greater.
Potential energy is the energy that
measures the potential, or possibility for
work to be done; when a hammerhead is
raised into the air, there is a potential work
to be done on it by the gravitational force,
only if it is allowed to fall to the ground. It is
also defined as the energy associated with
position.
This experiment is done in order to study
the principles of work, power and energy. The
following equations are used to obtain the
needed values for the experiment's activities.
Force is a push or pull upon an object
resulting from the object's interaction with
another object represented in this equation:
F = mg, where m the mass of an object and
g as the acceleration due to gravity constant,
which is 9.80 m/s2.
An object is said to be in free fall if it is
falling under the sole influence of gravity
represented by the formula: ,
where h is the actual vertical height, and t is
the time when the free falling body hit the
ground from where it fell.
Work is done when force acts on a body
and there is a displacement of the point of
application in the direction of the force and
is denoted by the equation:
= ,
where F is the force exerted on an object,
and d is the displacement the object.
Power is the rate at which work is done
upon an object, denoted by the formula:
, member, F is the force exerted and also
where W is the work done, and t is the time
of travel.
Initial and final energy of the object
are represented by the equations:
and
where m is the objects mass, and are
the initial and final positions of the object
respectively, and and are the initial
and final velocity of the object respectively.
Average energy is denoted by the
formula: + ), where is
the initial energy of the object while Ef is
the final energy of it.
Lastly, the percent difference can be
computed with the equation:
X 100, where
Eand Ef are the initial and final energy of
the object respectively, and is the
average energy of the object.
3. Methodology
In the determination of power output
when going up and downstairs activity, the
weight (mass times the acceleration due to
gravity constant (g), 9.80 m/s2) of each
member of the group was measured first.
Then each member was tasked to take note
of the time of their travel as they traverse up
and down a flight of stairs. The vertical height
of the stairs was determined through the free
fall formula,
,
where h is the actual vertical height of the
stairs in meters, and t is the time in seconds
when the free falling body (in the activity, a
pen was used) hit the floor from the full height
of the stairs.
Afterwards, each members amount
of work (done by gravity) in both going up
and down the stairs were computed with the
formula,
,
where W is the work output in Joules of each
equal to the weight of each member, and d is
also equal to the vertical height of the stairs in
meters.
Then the power output of each
, member of the group was determined with the
formula,
,
where P is the power output in Watts of
each member, W is the work done in Joules
by each member, and t is the time of travel
in seconds of each member in both going up
and down the stairs.
Lastly, the most powerful member of
the group was determined with the
comparison of the members power output.
In the tossed ball activity, the
mechanical energy of a plastic ball was
determined through the Motion Detector-
DIG/SONIC1 Channel.
Figure 1. Motion of plastic ball
The mass of the ball was determined
first using the electronic gram balance.
The motion detector which was
placed on the floor was then connected to
the DIG/SONIC1 Channel of the computer
interface.
Then the ball was raised to a certain
height directly over the motion detector. The
ball was then released and a graph using the
Vernier Logger Pro software was produced.
Figure 2. Position and Velocity versus
Time graph
+ )
and lastly, the percent difference was also
computed through the formula,
X 100 ,
where the absolute value of the difference of
the final and initial energy over their
average was multiplied by 100.
4. Results and Discussion

For Activity 1, the vertical distance

between second floor and the third floor is
2.48 meters. The table below shows the data
for each of the members of the groups:

Table 1. Data Computed for Group

Members

The initial position and velocity of

the ball together with its final position and
velocity was determined by two definite
coordinate points on the curve of the graph
produced.
The initial energy of the ball was
computed through the formula,
,
where Eo is the initial energy in Joules of
the ball, m is the mass of the ball, g is the
acceleration due to gravity constant, yo is the
initial position in meters of the ball, and vo
is the initial velocity in meters per second of
the ball.
The final energy of the ball was also
computed through the formula,
,
where Ef is the final energy in Joules of the
ball, m is the mass of the ball, g is the
acceleration due to gravity constant, yf is The weight (kg) for each of the
members was converted into newton and
the initial position in meters of the ball, and vf
formula Wt = mg was used. Work was
is the initial velocity in meters per second of
computed by W = mgh, positive to both up
the ball.
and down. To figure out the power output in
Then, the average energy in Joules of
going up and down, formula P = W/T was
the ball was computed through the formula,
used.
 The power varies on whether the computed from the series of formula given.
member is rising or going down the stairs, The percent difference is too high, and we can
but according to Table 1, the member who infer this from the different values pertaining
exerted more power in going up is Torres to the initials and finals being used. There is
and in going down is Zamora. a big difference from the values that is why it
Energy must be present to gave a big percent difference.
accomplish work. The greater the weight of
an object, the more work is being done by 5. Conclusion
the object when it is in motion. Power, on
the other hand, is dependent on work and The conservation of mechanical
time. If the work done is high in a short energy was duly demonstrated although the
amount of time, the power output would be calculations had discrepancies due to the big
higher compared to a work done in a long difference between the values used.
period of time. Energy is the source of the Potential and kinetic energies were also
capability to do work. Without energy, work measured as the ball freely falls. Finally, the
cannot be done. For example, Work is done power was computed for each member with
when carrying a load up a flight of stairs Torres as the one who exerted the most
whether the person carrying it walks or runs, power going up and Zamora as the one who
but greater power is exerted when running exerted the most power going down. Thus,
because the work is done in a shorter all objectives were achieved.
amount of time.
For Activity 2, the following graph 6. References
show the correlation of the position vs. time
graph and velocity vs. time graph the ball http://www.physicsclassroom.com/calcpad
has undergone. /energy/
http://hyperphysics.phyastr.gsu.edu/hbase/
Table 2. Data computed for the work.html
Conservation of Energy http://www.launc.tased.edu.au/online/scienc
Initial Position 0.195 m es/PhysSci/done/kinetics/wep/Work.htm
Initial Velocity 1.297 m/s
Final Position 0.677 m
Final Velocity 9.251 m/s
Initial Energy 0.206 J
Final Energy 3.71 J
Average Energy 1.95 J
Percent Difference 179.00%
One of the most important laws of
physics is the Conservation of Total Energy.
According to it, Total energy is always
conserved. Energy can be converted from
one form into another, but the total always
remains the same. The total energy of an
object is the sum of its potential energy and
its kinetic energy. Using the coordinates from
the parabola in the graph, the data were