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gdhillon
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1. This lab is based on 'Newtons cradle' () I can't link to the actual lab video because that requires my password and username...not that I don't trust you guys/gals but its a public site. Anyway, he let's the first ball go at 3.0 cm above it's equilibrium position and asks for me to calculate the potential energy (the ball on the side reaches a height of 2.6cm from the initial bounce). I found that to be 1.5*10^-2J. the equation I used was ep=mgh...=.05(9.8).03. Then I am asked to Use the law of conservation of energy to calculate its velocity before impact. This where I am confused as to what numbers I should use.
I tried Eki+epi=Ekf+Epf, I plugged in the numbers;
1/2(.05)v^2+(.05*9.8*03)=0
.025v^2=-.0147
v=-2.424...I set this equation to equal zero b/c they ask me for the velocity before impact, and before there was an impact there was no energy transferred. Am I correct in this thinking? If I am not please correct me. The negative velocity I got doesn't quite make sense to me. And I am a little stuck, pleas help!
Thanks!
Gavin
I tried Eki+epi=Ekf+Epf, I plugged in the numbers;
1/2(.05)v^2+(.05*9.8*03)=0
.025v^2=-.0147
v=-2.424...I set this equation to equal zero b/c they ask me for the velocity before impact, and before there was an impact there was no energy transferred. Am I correct in this thinking? If I am not please correct me. The negative velocity I got doesn't quite make sense to me. And I am a little stuck, pleas help!
Thanks!
Gavin
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