To Study, the Conservation of Energy of a Ball Rolling Down on an Inclined Plane (Using a Double Inclined Plane)

Introduction

There are many other kinds of energy, including gravitational potential energy, elastic energy, and kinetic (or movement) energy. Although it may seem like energy eventually disappears in our daily lives when you push a shopping cart, for instance, it does so energy actually cannot be lost. 

With a mechanical system, like as a body rolls down an inclined plane, the energy of the ball is still there in the form of its kinetic and potential energies, and throughout the motion, a continuous change between these energies occurs. If there is no energy loss via friction, air resistance, etc., the total of its kinetic and potential energies stays constant.

Aim

To investigate the energy conservation of a ball falling on an inclined plane (using a double inclined plane).

Apparatus Required

• A steel ball with a diameter of about 20 cm

• Two wooden blocks with a length of 2.5 cm

• Two weights weighing one kilogramme each

• Stopwatch or clock

• Metre scale

• Plumb line

• Spirit level

Theory

At rest, the sphere is performing rolling up an inclined plane that has no kinetic energy and only potential energy. The body's potential energy declines and its kinetic energy rises as it rolls down the track. It has zero potential and only kinetic energy at the bottom of the track. The same ball's kinetic energy falls, and potential energy rises as it travels up the second incline track. When a body rolls without sliding on an inclined plane with no kinetic energy and just potential energy when it comes to a stop somewhere near the top of the second inclined track. This will continue as the ball returns from the second track. The sum of the ball's kinetic and potential energy will remain constant (conserved) throughout the ball's motion and continue indefinitely if there is no friction in the track. The ball's total kinetic and potential energy will remain in the absence of any track friction.

Schematic Diagram of a Ball Rolling on an Inclined Plane

Procedure

1. As determined using a level, position the lab table so its top is horizontal.

2. Place weights on the wings of the double inclined track to stabilise it and keep it on the tabletop.

3. To make the tracks sloped, place the wooden block underneath each one. The two rails' inclination angles might not be equivalent.

4. Take the steel ball and gently place it on mark A on inclined track I i.e., OA.

5. Take note of where mark B is located on inclined plane II i.e., OB , where the ball rises.

6. With the aid of a plumb line and metre scale, determine the vertical heights AA’ and BB’.

7. Repeat 4, 5, and 6 three more times, adjusting the angles or positioning of the inclined planes.

8. As seen below, note observations in a table.

Observation Table

Result

It is evident from the diagram above that the body (rolling ball) has the same starting and final potential energy, even though this energy is transformed into kinetic energy when the ball is in motion. In other words, within the bounds of the experimental error, the ball's total kinetic and potential energy remains constant. This demonstrates how energy moves from kinetic to potential and vice versa. It is neither being made nor taken away. The principle of conservation is proven by this.

Precautions

• Cotton should be dampened in benzene and used to clean incline railways.

• The vertical axes of the two tracks should be parallel.

• In comparison to the distance the ball travels along the track, distance (AB) should be insignificant.

• Keep in mind that the ball is in the proper location C on plane II.

Lab Manual Questions

1. If the ball is not reaching exactly the same height on the other wing, comment on the observations

Ans. Air resistance, another type of friction, naturally reduces the system's overall energy. But even if air resistance isn't there, I believe that some energy will still be wasted when the ball moves from one inclined plane to another because the transition won't be seamless and the ball will have to "hard" contact the second plane. For example, this wouldn't occur on a half-pipe, and the height would remain the same.

2. What factors influence a ball's speed as it descends a ramp?

Ans. The hypothesis that "The greater the angle of the incline the ball is rolling down, the greater velocity the ball will reach." and "The greater the mass of the ball, the greater velocity the ball will reach." were both found to be false after examining how mass, angle of incline, and centre of mass affect the velocity of a ball rolling down an incline.

3. Which elements influence the coefficient of friction?

Ans. Two variables only influence the coefficient of friction, and they are as follows:

• Type of surfaces coming into contact.

• The friction style (Static, kinetic, or rolling friction)

A surface characteristic is the coefficient of friction. As a result, its value remains unchanged for every set of material surfaces.

4. Why does a ball not return to its original height after bouncing?

Ans. The ball falls or accelerates downward under the influence of gravity when it is launched from a specific height, explaining why (g). just fall freely. However, after falling, the ball strikes the ground before bouncing back, which causes some of the ball's velocity to be reduced. At the same time, as the ball bounces back, gravity continues to act on the ball in the opposite direction of the ball's velocity, that is, in the ball's downward direction.

Viva Questions

1. What is the benefit of an inclined plane?

Ans. By distributing a force over a wider area, simple machines assist us in making work easier. This fundamental concept enables the inclined plane to easily lift heavy objects, the wedge to divide rigid objects in half quickly, and the screw to convert rotational torque into linear force.

2. An inclined plane falls under the category of basic machines.

Ans. Ramps are basic machine that manipulates the direction and strength of a force. Inclined planes are another name for them. The mechanical advantage, or the ratio of the output force to the applied force, is used by inclined planes, just like all other simple machines.

3. Which inclined plane pushes up more?

Ans. Less steeply inclined plane Gravity, pulling toward the centre of the Earth, pulls the object more into the table, so to support something (or someone), a flatter inclined plane must exert greater upward force.

4. What is an angled plane that is spirally wrapped?

Ans. A basic machine with straight, slanted surfaces and two or more circular objects of various diameters consists of an inclined plane looped in a spiral around a cylinder. First, second, and third-class simple machines have a bar that pivots at a set position known as the fulcrum.

5. Does work become harder on an inclined plane?

Ans. An inclined plane simplifies work, just like any simple machine. A wedge resembles two inclination planes that have been joined. The blade of a wedge is frequently referred to as an example of an inclined plane. An inclined plane stays in place while a wedge moves to complete its task, which is a significant distinction between the two. An inclined plane is a simple machine like any other. 

6. What is the inclined plane's efficiency?

Ans. The ratio of the sloping surface's length to its height determines an inclined plane's mechanical advantage or how much the force is reduced.

7. What are some simple machine facts?

Ans. Simple machines can be divided into six categories: wheel and axle, pulley, lever, inclined plane, wedge, and screw. These simple devices can be combined to create complex machines. Wheels, screwdrivers, scissors, knives, nutcrackers, and hammers are a few examples of rudimentary machinery.

8. What is an object's normal force?

Ans. The support force applied to an object when it comes into touch with another stable object is known as the normal force. For instance, if a book is on a surface and sitting there, the surface is pulling up on the book to support the weight of the book.

9. Can normal force be used to perform work?

Ans. Since the vectors are perpendicular to the direction of displacement, neither the normal force nor the gravitational force is able to accomplish any work. The friction force, on the other hand, acts on the hockey puck and is parallel to the surface. The friction force, however, results in negative work.

10. When the starting velocity is zero, what is acceleration?

Ans. No, the absence of velocity does not imply the absence of acceleration. Acceleration and velocity are two distinct concepts. An object's acceleration is the rate at which its velocity changes as a function of time, whereas an object's velocity is defined as the rate at which its location changes as a function of time in a certain frame of reference.

Practical Based Questions

1. What goes into raising a box? 

1. How fast it is raised

2. The strength of the man

3. The height by which it is raised

4. None of the above

Ans. C) The height by which it is raised

2. The momenta of a light and a heavy body are equivalent. whose kinetic energy is higher?

1. The light body

2. The heavy body

3. The kinetic energy is equal

4. Data is incomplete

Ans. A) The light body

3. A body at rest could have:

1. Energy

2. Momentum

3. Speed

4. Velocity

Ans. A) Energy

4. Does a body's kinetic energy increase if its momentum is multiplied by n times?

1. n times

2. 2n times

3. n3 times

4. n2 times

Ans. C) n2 times

5. What happens when an outside force exerts work on a body? 

1. Kinetic Energy Increases

2. Potential Energy Increases

3. Both Kinetic Energy And Potential Energy Increases

4. Sum Of The Kinetic Energy And Potential Energy Remains Constant

Ans. C) Kinetic and potential energy both grow.

6. A body's momentum will increase by 100% if its K.E. is increased by?

1. 300%

2. 150%

3. 200%

4. 175%

Ans. A) 300 %

7. The kinetic energy of a heavy and light body is equivalent. Which one has greater momentum?

1. The light body

2. The heavy body

3. Both have equal momentum

4. It is not possible to say anything without additional information

Ans. B) The heavy body

8. The kinetic energy will increase by 125% if the linear momentum is increased by?

1. 50%

2. 100%

3. 125%

4. 25%

Ans.  A) 50 %

9. The stone's potential energy is greatest if it is hurled up vertically and lands on the ground.

1. During the upward journey

2. At the maximum height

3. During the return journey

4. At the bottom

Ans. B) At the maximum height

10.  A wound watch spring's potential energy equals

1. K.E

2. P.E

3. Heat Energy

4. Chemical Energy

Ans. B) P.E

Conclusion

The principle of conservation is proven by the experiment. It has shown that the ball's total kinetic and potential energy remains constant. It is neither being made nor taken away. However, the vertical axes of the tracks should be parallel. The body loses potential energy as it moves down the track while gaining kinetic energy. It possesses only kinetic energy and no potential energy at the track's bottom. The same ball has less kinetic energy and more potential energy when it rolls up the second incline track.