Potential and Kinetic Energy - Experiment 2 - Using Energy: Build a roller coaster
Experiment 2
Using Energy: Build a roller coaster
Purpose/Hypothesis
Potential energy, provided by the force of gravity pulling on an object, is converted into kinetic energy as an object falls from a height. The amount of potential energy an object has is revealed by the speed with which it moves once released.
You can calculate potential energy using the formula PE=mgh, where m is mass, g is the acceleration of gravity 32.2 feet/second2 (9.8 meters/second2), and h is the height of the object in feet (meters). You can calculate kinetic energy using the formula KE=(0.5)mv2, where m is mass, and v is the velocity of the object in feet/second (meters/second). The speed with which the object moves and the height to which it returns also indicate how much potential energy is being converted into kinetic energy and back to potential energy. You can explore this idea by watching a roller...
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