Andrea Scott’s Science Experiment. Q)How does the height of a ramp affect potential energy of a car? Q)At which height do you think the car will have.

Andrea Scott’s Science Experiment

Q)How does the height of a ramp affect potential energy of a car?

Q)At which height do you think the car will have the most potential energy?

Potential Energy Potential energy is stored

energy and the energy of position — gravitational energy. There are several forms of potential energy.

Gravitational Energy is energy stored in an object's height. The higher and heavier the object, the more gravitational energy is stored. When you ride a bicycle down a steep hill and pick up speed, the gravitational energy is being converted to motion energy

Kinetic Energy Kinetic energy is motion — of

waves, molecules, objects, substances, and objects.

Motion Energy is energy stored in the movement of objects. The faster they move, the more energy is stored. It takes energy to get an object moving and energy is released when an object slows down.

I predict that the car will travel farther when the ramp is higher. I think this because I know my bicycle goes faster when I am riding down a hill than when it is on flat ground.

Manipulated variable-

(MV)

Responding variable-

(RV)

Constants-

The height of the ramp

Distance the car travels in inches

Car, ramp surface, landing surface, air

speed, person launching car

Smooth, flat wood ramp

8 wooden rectangular blocks to prop up the ramp

1 matchbox type car Smooth surface for

landing Ruler or measuring

tape Pencil and Paper

We will begin by inserting 2 blocks under the 2 longest sides of the ramp.

(4 blocks total) We will select one car to use during all trials of the experiment. I will set out a measuring tape that begins at the end of the ramp and

measures out 40 inches. I will tape it down so that it does not move.__________________________________________________________________ I will place the car with it’s back wheels touching the top of the ramp.

(the highest part of the ramp) I will let go of the car and watch how far it travels. I will measure how far the car traveled and collect my data. I will repeat the experiment ten times and continue to collect data.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------ I will then raise the ramp to 4 blocks under the two longest sides. (8

blocks) I will repeat the experiment 10 times and continue to collect data on

the distance the car travels in inches.

I began my experiment by finding a car that would be reliable. I tried 6 different cars before I came to the conclusion that the yellow number 9 speed racer rolled straight and never flipped. #9 is the car that was chosen to roll!

Data Collected2 blocks high

1. 10.2 in2. 9.4 in3. 8 in4. 8.2 in5. 7.6 in6. 7 in7. 7.6 in8. 7 in9. 7.4 in10. 7.2 in

Data Collected4 blocks high

1. 22. in2. 21.6 in3. 24.4 in4. 24.6 in5. 24. in6. 23.4 in7. 24 in8. 23.6 in9. 26 in10. 24. in

Q)How does the height of a ramp affect the potential energy of a car?

A)The higher the ramp, The more potential energy the car holds. Therefore, the car launched from the higher ramp traveled farther.

Q) At which height do you think the car will have the most potential energy?

A) The ramp with four blocks under the corners gave the car more potential energy than the ramp lifted with two blocks. That is why it traveled farther.

Uses Gravitational potential energy has a number of practical uses, notably

the generation of hydroelectricity. For example in Dinorwig, Wales, there are two lakes, one at a higher elevation than the other. At times when surplus electricity is not required (and so is comparatively cheap), water is pumped up to the higher lake, thus converting the electrical energy (running the pump) to gravitational potential energy. At times of peak demand for electricity, the water flows back down through electrical generator turbines, converting the potential energy into kinetic energy and then back into electricity. (The process is not completely efficient and much of the original energy from the surplus electricity is in fact lost to friction.) See also pumped storage.

Gravitational potential energy is also used to power clocks in which falling weights operate the mechanism.

3/20/10 Planted plants to start Science experiment on Botany 4/9/10 Killed bean plants with little data 4/11/10 Emailed Dr. Raze in a panic 4/12/10 Decided to change experiment to cars/ramps. Got the

O.K. 4/12/10 Experimented with which car would roll best 4/12/10 Collected materials 4/12/10 Conducted Cars/Ramps experiment

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=about_forms_of_energy-forms

http://www.lessonplanspage.com/ScienceExCarsRampsAndEnergyMO68.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potential_energy

Many thanks to Sam Scott for allowing me to play with his cars.