|
Title: How do you calculate POTENTIAL and KINETIC energy? Post by: FinFan on Feb 13, 2013 We have to calculate the Potential and Kinetic energy on rollercoasters we built in class. What formulas would I use? Would I have to multiply these by the friction of the track? I'm pretty confused. I saw a couple formulas out there, I just need to know the simplest ones.
A step by step process would be helpful, or quick explanation. Yes, and please answer if I would have to include the friction! Thank you! Title: How do you calculate POTENTIAL and KINETIC energy? Post by: irina on Feb 13, 2013 Potential Energy = mass x acceleration of gravity x height
Kinetic Energy = (1/2) mass x velocity x velocity acceleration of gravity = 9.8 m/s^2 Title: How do you calculate POTENTIAL and KINETIC energy? Post by: ilikelamp on Feb 13, 2013 if friction is negligible (which i'm not saying it is) then the kinetic energy comes from the initial potential energy. so potential energy is mgh, and however much that decreases kinetic energy increases so
u=mgh k=mg(h0-h) where h0 is initial height and h is current height. but if friction is not negligible then you have to use 1/2mv^2 for kinetic energy. to determine if friction is negligible or not just let it go and see if friction slows it down a noticeable amount, or ask your teacher he might tell you to either neglect friction or not. |