Conservation of Energy Challenge Lab
Copy of Tom Walsh's simulation repurposed for an intro physics lab.
The mass is released from rest when the spring is at its equilibrium length. The bar charts to the right of the mass show the amount of kinetic energy (K), gravitational potential energy (Ug), and elastic potential energy (Ue). The first chart shows them independently, and the second chart shows how they add up to equal the total mechanical energy (Esys).
Measurements of the displacement of the spring from its equilibrium length, kinetic energy, and elastic potential energy are provided at the bottom. The zero of gravitational potential energy can be adjusted by clicking and dragging on the dot labeled Ug=0.
The goal of this lab is to find a way to use these measurements to determine the mass of the block and the spring constant of the spring. Assume the spring is ideal.