Oakridge International School(Newton)

Physics Term-1
Project
Conservation Of Total Mechanical Energy

Vishal
2018-2019
1. AIM
2. INTRODUCTION
3. THEORY
4. PROCEDURE
5. OBSERVATION
6. CONCLUSION
7. PRECAUTIONS
8. BIBLIOGRAPHY
To study the inter-conversion of potential energy
and kinetic energy and hence find the effect
on the total Mechanical energy of a system.
In physics, the kinetic energy of an object is the energy that it
possesses due to its motion. It is defined as the work needed to
accelerate a body of a given mass from rest to its stated velocity.
Having gained this energy during its acceleration, the body
maintains this kinetic energy unless its speed changes. The same
amount of work is done by the body when decelerating from its
current speed to a state of rest.
In classical mechanics, the kinetic energy of a non-rotating object
of mass m traveling at a speed v is
½(m*v^2). .

In physics, potential energy is the energy held by an object

because of its position relative to other objects, stresses within
itself, its electric charge, or other factors. The Potential energy of a
body of mass m and at height of h above the surface is mgh.

In physical sciences, mechanical energy is the sum of potential

energy and kinetic energy. It is the energy associated with the
motion and position of an object.
The principle of conservation of mechanical energy states
that in an isolated system that is only subject to conservative
forces, the mechanical energy is constant.

In support of the principle, every point in a fall of body with mass

m from height h should have equal mechanical energies,

At point h and a point right before hitting the ground will have
same mechanical energy but mgh=1/2(m*v^2).

Formulae:

ME = KE +PE

KE=1/2(m*v^2)

PE=mgh

V=u+at
1. Take a ball and weigh it using a weighing machine.
2. Take a point A at height h measured using a measuring tape.
3. Calculate Potential Energy (PE) at A, this is also the Total
Mechanical Energy.
4. Drop the ball from point A.
5. Take a point B at h2. Calculate time taken by the ball to
reach B from A, using a stopwatch, then calculate velocity (v)
at B and hence calculate mechanical energy at B.
6. Take a point C at h3. Calculate time taken by the ball to
reach C from A, using a stopwatch, then calculate velocity
(v2) at C and hence calculate mechanical energy at C.
7. Take a point D at h4>>0. Calculate time taken by the ball to
reach D from A, using a stopwatch, then calculate velocity
(v4) of the ball at D and hence the mechanical energy at D.
8. Record your observations carefully.
9. Compare Mechanical energy of the ball at different Points.
AT POINT A:

ME=PE+KE

KE=0(Since v=0)

ME=PE=mgh

m=10g=0.01kg, g=9.8m/ (sec^2), h=490m

Thus,

ME=0.01*9.8*490= 48.02 J

AT POINT B

ME2 = PE2 +KE2

h2= 313.6m, g=9.8m/ (sec^2), m=0.01Kg

v = u +at (Equation of motion)

a=g and u=0

v=gt

t = 6 sec (Stopwatch value)

v=6*9.8=58.8m/sec

KE2=1/2(m*v^2) =1/2(0.01*58.8^2) =17.2872 J

PE2=0.01*9.8*313.6=30.7328 J

ME2=30.7328+17.2872=48.02 J

AT POINT C

ME3=PE3+KE3

h3= 176.4m, g=9.8m/ (sec^2), m=0.01Kg

v = u +at (Equation of motion)

a=g and u=0

v2=gt

t = 8 sec (Stopwatch value)

v=8*9.8=78.4 m/sec

KE3=1/2(m*v2^2) =1/2(0.01*78.4^2) =30.7328 J

PE3=0.01*9.8*176.4=17.2872 J

ME3=30.7328+17.2872=48.02 J

AT POINT D

ME4=PE4+KE4

PE=0(since h4>>0)

h4= 0m, g=9.8m/ (sec^2), m=0.01Kg

v3=gt
t = 10 sec (Stopwatch value)

v=10*9.8=98 m/sec

ME4=KE4=1/2(m*v3^2) = 1/2(0.01*98^2) =48.02J

ME=ME2=ME3=ME4=48.02 J

Mechanical Energy of the ball remains constant and is the sum of

potential and kinetic energy at any point.

Thus potential energy converts into kinetic energy constantly, but

this has no effect on the total Mechanical energy.
1. The stopwatch, measuring tape, or weighing scale
should not have instrumental errors.
2. There should not be parallax errors.
3. Calculations should be precise.
4. Air resistance should be minimal.
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_energy
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_energy
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_energy
4. Class 11 NCERT PHYSICS PART I
5. www,google.com
6. Google Images