Lab 13 Carlos H. (Magnetic Potential Energy Lab)

Magnetic Potential Energy 

Name: Carlos Hernandez

Lab Partners: Ariel De Leon, Dhalia Tran

Date: 10-10-16 & 10-12-16

1. In this lab we will be analyzing and looking at the conservation of energy with magnetic potential energy.

2. In this lab we utilized a track which blows air, a cart mounted on the track which with the air makes it have virtually no friction(negligible). a magnet at the end of the track, caliper, meter stick, books, to help balance the track to a level surface,  a strong arm to lift the track for the experiment, and a photo to measure angles. 

3. We raised the track like so at an angle theta, we used a phone to measure the angle theta and with a caliper measured the distance separated by the magnet. We raised the track and took data 8 different times , a photo with the data is placed below.

After collecting out data we then put graphed in logger pro the force of the magnets by the distance of separation, we then put a power fit on the graph to get a fitting function where A is multipled by r raised to B

This concluded the first day of the experiment, on the second day we now used a motion detector, measuring a distance from the motion detector to the cart and the cart to the end of the track to get our distance that needs to be subtracted from our distance measured by the motion detector. Our separation ended up being .3621 +- .1 (from the ruler) After this we made a collection of data with the cart slowly (constantly) moving towards the magnet and moving back. With this data we are able to calculate or Kinetic energy and Gravitational energy given from the previous part of the lab.

After inputting our U-mag and KE information into logger pro we managed to see what the total energy of the system was . Surprisingly the experiment went well and the data collected looked great. The total energy did not go up (which would be crazy!) and tried to remain constant. The slight decrease to my thought might be due to some slight friction on the cart nevertheless we see how conversation of energy remains through all forms of energy and try it out through a magnetic lab which is great. Cheers.