Energy Transfer Challenge

Energy Transfer Challenge

Goal

Determine the relationship between the spring stretch distance and the force on the spring.  

Data collected

Graphical representation:

*the steeper slope had a stiffer spring, meaning that F and x have a larger relationship.

Stretchy Spring: 

Equation of the line: F = 8.98x + 0.0223

Stiff Spring:

Equation of the line: F = 80.841x + 1.0651

Post Lab Questions:

1. What's the relationship between the spring stretch distance and the force?
    The distance it stretches and the force exerted are identical.
2. How does the total energy in the spring compare when it is stretched more?
    The energy in the stretched spring is greater than an un-stretched spring.
3. When you look at an F v.s. x graph, what does the slope represent?
    The slope represents the stiffness in the spring (the spring constant).
4. How do the F v.s. x graphs show how much energy was present?
    The steeper the slope, the greater amount of energy present.  Also, the energy was shown through the area under the curve, which could be calculated using the Eel = 1/2bh formula.
5. What is the equation to calculate the force needed to stretch a spring a certain distance?
    F = Kx   (K is the constant energy)
6. What is the formula for the elastic potential energy in a spring?
    This can also be found as the area under a slope as Eel = 1/2bh.  Otherwise, the equation is Eel = 1/2Kx^2
7. Do a pie chart analysis for each of the two springs used for the carts showing them compressed and then released as the cart moved forward.

Stiff spring:

Stretchy spring: