Physics Trolley Investigation
Task
I will be finding out the affect of change in height of a ramp on the velocity of the trolley dropped from the ramp.
Variables
1.Mass and shape of trolley.
2.Height of the ramp.
3.Force with which the trolley is dropped.
4.Position on the ramp that the speed of the trolley is taken
5.Length of ramp
6.Surface of the ramp and the trolleys wheels
Key Variables
Output variable - Speed of the trolley
Key Input variable - Height of the ramp
Prediction
I predict that as the height of the ramp increases so will the velocity of the trolley. I think this because at the top of the ramp the trolley will have its greatest gravitational potential energy (GPE) this is because it is at its highest point. If GPE = mass x gravity x height then its greatest GPE will be at its highest point as it is the only variable we will change, mass will stay the same.
The Texas Giant'', a large wooden roller coaster a...
English: Gravitational potential is a scalar poten...
English: The graph of Gravitational force and pote...At the bottom it will have its greatest kinetic energy. This is because the gravitational potential energy (GPE) gradually turns into kinetic energy (KE) as it falls. This happens because energy cannot be created of destroyed, it can just be changed into other forms of energy. Therefore maximum GPE = Maximum KE, so mgh = ý mv2. However, due to friction the equation should really be mgh = ý mv2 + energy lost due to friction, this is more correct as it accounts for the energy lost due to friction. If we divide this equation by mass then we are left with gh = ý v2, if we then multiply both sides by 2 we have 2gh = v2. This means that V2 = 2gh, this makes height and velocity...