Day 3
There are two types of mechanical energy, potential or kinetic. Mousetrap cars convert the potential energy stored in a spring into motion (kinetic energy). Friction is any force that opposes motion and is essential in a mousetrap car. Without it, the car would never move since frictionless wheels can't gain traction. Friction also slows and eventually stops the car. In these labs, you will measure the potential energy stored in the spring and predict how far the car can travel when converted into kinetic energy while taking into account the most important sources of friction.
Perform labs #2, 5, and 6 of the engineering document and complete the data analysis. Specifically:
There are two types of mechanical energy, potential or kinetic. Mousetrap cars convert the potential energy stored in a spring into motion (kinetic energy). Friction is any force that opposes motion and is essential in a mousetrap car. Without it, the car would never move since frictionless wheels can't gain traction. Friction also slows and eventually stops the car. In these labs, you will measure the potential energy stored in the spring and predict how far the car can travel when converted into kinetic energy while taking into account the most important sources of friction.
Perform labs #2, 5, and 6 of the engineering document and complete the data analysis. Specifically:
- Complete table 1 for lab #2 (The Force is Against You). Watch the Khan Academy video on inclined plane geometry if you are confused where all these formulas come from.
- Complete tables 1 and 2 and the graph for lab #5 (All Wound Up) and answer the Analysis questions 1-4 (page 85). Watch this Khan Academy video to review torque.
- Complete table 2 for lab #6 (The Force is Against You - Part 2) Watch this Khan Acadamy video to see an example of how friction is used in a calculation.