SPH3U: Physics, Grade 11, University Preparation
Unit 4: Energy and Society
U4L4F: Conservation of Energy
Energy Transformations Investigation
... [Show More] Formative Assignment
Complete the following questions while working through the Unit 4 Energy
Transformations Investigation, which allows you to construct various roller coasters.
Purpose: To investigate energy transformations between gravitational potential energy and
kinetic energy, and to verify the law of conservation of energy.
Hypothesis: Make hypotheses regarding the following:
a. Where on each roller coaster will the speed be the highest?
The speed is often the highest when the roller coaster is at its lowest point.
b. Where on each roller coaster will the speed be the lowest?
The speed is the lowest when the coaster is at the top of a hill or at the highest point.
c. How will the mass of the cart affect the energies?
I think the mass of the cart does not affect the energies in any way and technically could be
factored out if necessary.
d. How will the mass of the cart affect the speed?
I think the heavier the cart, the slower the roller coaster will go and the faster the cart, the faster
the roller coaster will go.
e. Will energy be conserved?
No, I think energy cannot be conserved in a roller coaster because of the friction present. If
there was no friction causing the energy to be lost, there would be energy conserved and the
roller coaster could carry on forever, but this is not the case.
Procedure:
1. Build a roller coaster with three hills, where the first hill is the highest and the last hill is
the lowest. Run your coaster with three different cart masses and record the mass of
the cart, the height of each hill, the height of the lowest points between the hills, and the
end height. In addition, record the speed of the cart at each of the heights recorded.
You should organize your observations in a table similar to the one shown below.
It doesn’t matter if you stop the cart exactly on the crest of the hill or the very bottom of the
hill as long as you record the height and the speed accurately. Measure the height with
the sliding scale. [Show Less]