Lab 10: Magnetic Potential Energy 10/8 - 10/13

Purpose

In this lab, we are using the relationship between force and distance to find the potential energy of the magnet and see that the conservation of energy applies to this system as well.

Procedure + Lab Equipment

What we used:

• air track + vacuum
• glider cart
• angle reader 
• motion sensor

What we did:

1. We placed the air track at an angle (day 1)
• we let the glider go measured how far away the glider was from the  magnet
• we repeated this step at different angles for a total of 5x
2. We  leveled the track and then gave the glider a push toward the magnet (day 2)

Data

The graph is the relationship between the force and the distance

This graph shows how as the angle of the ramp is increased, the force increases as well, and the distance between the magnets decreases. This force and distance relationship helps us in finding the potential energy as a function of distance. So as the distance between the magnet changes, so does the potential energy. 

This is the data for the cart when the track is leveled

This is the data collected for the cart as it approached and moves away from the magnet.

Calculations + Data Analysis

This is the data for energy at each point

This is the graph that shows the PE and KE as the glider approaches and then moves away from the magnet.

Summary