Mapua University

Senior High School

Science, Technology, Engineering
and Mathematics

PHY01/MS202
EXPERIMENT NO. 4
CONSERVATION OF ENERGY

Abaño, Daphnie Anjonette B.

Mendoza, Teana Princess D.
Ramoya, Sean Heinrich A.
Montero, Emmanuel L.

Instructor: Engr. Richard Caranto

ABSTRACT

Work results from the application of force to an object and causes displacement, and the capacity
to do work is defined as energy. The Law of Conservation states that energy can neither be created nor
destroyed but only transformed into another form of energy. This experiment tackles three different types
of energy in a closed system: (1) potential energy, the stored energy that depends on object mass and
height, (2) kinetic energy, present in objects in motion, and (3) mechanical energy, a combination of the
two. The experiment’s overall purpose is to demonstrate to the students the applications of the three types
of energy as they try to achieve their end goal. Through a Labster simulation, the students are tasked to
modify a coaster track to reach a top speed of at least 100km/h. The students first learn the basic concepts
of potential and kinetic energy by performing various trials using coasters of different masses and release
heights. By measuring the velocity through different points in the track, the students learned how to
calculate the respective total mechanical energy, which includes potential and kinetic energy. With that
knowledge, the students modified the actual tracks accordingly and even improved the coaster’s top speed
to complete an additional double loop. Based on the calculated and actual results, the students concluded
a successful experiment. They recommend conducting the same experiments with real-life external forces
such as friction to further enhance their understanding of energy conservation.

Keywords: Energy, Potential, Kinetic, Mechanical

Ramoya, Sean Heinrich A.

Introduction “ability to do work, which is the ability to exert

a force causing displacement of an object.” The
Energy is seen everywhere, from the most important law when it comes to energy is
electricity that runs through the currents, to the the Law of Conservation, which states that
heat that the sun provides. The Canada Science energy cannot be created nor destroyed; as such,
and Technology Museum defines energy as a form of energy can only be transformed into
another. The experiment applied the principles of Materials and Methods
three types of energies; potential, kinetic, and
mechanical. According to The Editors of Using Labster, a fully interactive
Encyclopaedia Britannica, potential energy is laboratory simulation, conservation of energy
stored energy that is dependent on the relative was introduced, including its key concepts, types
parts of a system. In other terms, it is the capacity of energy, and things to consider using the
of an object to do work in a raised position. It is following materials: (1) workbenches used to
given by the equation: show the necessary equations; (2) three
rollercoaster vehicles with different masses (1kg,
𝐸𝑝 = 𝑚𝑔ℎ [Equation 1] 5kg, & 8kg) used as a tool to demonstrate the
SI Unit: 𝑘𝑔 ∗ 𝑚2 /𝑠 2 movement of a roller coaster; (3) sections of the
testing track with three different variations used
Where m is the mass, g is the acceleration to portray the concepts of potential, kinetic, and
due to gravity, and h is the height. In the mechanical energy; (4) velocity tracker used to
experiment, the roller coaster will simulate the identify the velocity of the vehicles; (5) formula
mentioned equation. The heaviest vehicle at the board used in calculation; and (6) LabPad used
tallest height will possess the most potential to track the progress of the students and view the
energy and after being dropped from that point, theories related to the main topic of the activity.
the potential energy will decrease, resulting in it
transforming into kinetic energy. On the other
hand, as stated by the Physics Classroom (n.d.), The experiment used a scenario of
kinetic energy is the energy of an object in modifying the roller coaster track of Labster to
motion. In the experiment, the vehicle possessed improve its speed and go over 100 km/h using
kinetic energy after being dropped due to its the principles of physics. Concepts, such as the
motion. Kinetic energy is given by the formula: potential and kinetic energy equations, were
introduced before modifying the testing track.
𝐸𝑘 = ½𝑚𝑣 2 [Equation 2] After that, the students identified the main
SI Unit: 𝑘𝑔 ∗ 𝑚2 /𝑠 2 potential and kinetic energy points by
performing test trials using the mini roller coaster
Where m is the mass, and v is the vehicles, sample track, and velocity tracker. The
velocity. Meanwhile, mechanical energy is a students conducted several attempts to identify
combination of potential energy and kinetic the effect of the vehicle’s weight and height of
energy. It is the sum of all energy in a system, as the trail on the energy performed by the roller
stated by Coffey (2010). The objective of this coaster and calculated the value of potential and
experiment is to improve the Labster roller kinetic energy in the formula board. It was
coaster to reach 100km/h. It aims to teach the followed by identifying what type of energy
students on the applications of potential energy, occurs when the roller coaster is in the mid-point
kinetic energy, and mechanical energy, wherein between maximum height and zero. The
it is assumed that the vehicle will reach 100 km/h system’s mechanical energy was then calculated.
through the track improvement. After that, the students applied the newly gained
knowledge to the actual testing track of the roller
Abaño, Daphnie Anjonette B. & Mendoza, coaster. They modified sections of the testing
Teana Princess D. track to increase the total mechanical energy of
the system. After the modification, the vehicle’s
velocity became 28 m/s, which means that the
most potential energy has been fully converted to
kinetic energy, making the roller coaster go
extremely fast. Two loops were also added to the
testing track to provide a more fun experience for 𝐸𝑝 = (8𝑘𝑔)(9.8 𝑚/𝑠)(6𝑚)
the ride. The vehicle was tested again, but after it Resulting in a potential energy of 470 J.
was found that the velocity was not adequate,
more modifications were made to the track, i.e.,
adding more height to the first section of the
track. This made it reach 29.7 m/s, which is
enough for the vehicle to successfully pass
through the double loop section.
Mendoza, Teana Princess D. & Abaño,
Daphnie Anjonette B.

Results and Discussion

The objective of this experiment was to

improve the Labster roller coaster so that it could
go over 100 km/h with the application of the
principles of physics. The roller coaster was Graph 2
successfully improved to go over 100 km/h by
getting the potential energy and kinetic energy. According to the energy data screen
In calculating the potential energy, the height above, the potential energy of the vehicle
and mass of the vehicle with the highest potential decreases as it reaches the ground. As stated by
energy were determined. It was found that the the law of conservation of energy, energy can
roller coaster vehicle that weighs 8kg at the neither be created nor destroyed. It can only be
height of 6m has the highest potential energy, as converted into a different type of energy.
seen in the graph below. Subsequently, the kinetic energy increases due to
potential energy being converted into kinetic
energy. (Florida State College at Jacksonville,
n.d.). Having said that, the formula for kinetic
energy is given by the equation;

𝐸𝑘 = ½𝑚𝑣 2 [Equation 2]

With the vehicle’s mass equal to 8kg and

the velocity at the ground equal to 10.8 𝑚/𝑠 2 ,
the kinetic energy can now be derived.

𝐸𝑘 = ½(8𝑘𝑔)(10.8)2
𝐸𝑘 = 470 𝐽

There had been half potential energy and

Graph 1 half kinetic energy at mid-height since the
vehicle would possess only half of the potential
The formula for potential energy is energy, wherein the rest had been converted into
given by the equation; kinetic energy. The figure below shows the
𝐸𝑝 = 𝑚𝑔ℎ [Equation 1] kinetic energy, potential energy, and mechanical
Substituting the values; energy.
 enough to go through the double loops.
Increasing the height of the starting position,
adding a motor, and decreasing the maximum
height of the loop were the measures needed. In
this context, the potential energy at the top of the
loop is required to be calculated. Since the
starting position of the coaster was now adjusted
to be 45 m,

Figure 1

Mechanical energy is the combination of

potential energy and kinetic energy (Editors of
Britannica, 2017). The students observed that the
mechanical energy is also 470 J because the Figure 2
system used is isolated. Air resistance would
have been a factor that reduces energy, but it was The initial energy needs to be higher than
ignored in this case. the outcome, so the difference between the
potential energy at the starting position, and the
Applying the principles as mentioned energy required to reach the top of the loop was
earlier to the rollercoaster, the potential energy determined. Thus, the velocity of the coaster had
of the roller coaster ride had been computed; reached 29.7m/s, making it possible for the
vehicle to go through the loop.
𝐸𝑝 = (300𝑘𝑔)(9.8 𝑚/𝑠)(20𝑚)
𝐸𝑝 = 58800 𝐽 Abaño, Daphnie Anjonette B. & Mendoza,
Since potential energy is equal to kinetic energy, Teana Princess D.
the maximum velocity can be solved by
rearranging the formula for kinetic energy. Conclusion

𝑣 = √2𝐸𝑘 /𝑚 [Equation 2.1] The results and observations acquired

𝑣 = √2(58800)/300𝑘𝑔 from the experiment clearly explained the
𝑣 = 19.8 𝑚/𝑠 profound concepts of energy conservation,
including potential, kinetic, and mechanical
Keeping in mind that 100 km/h is equal energy, by modifying the track of a rollercoaster
to 27.8 m/s, the velocity of the current track to make it go over 100 km/h through Labster.
would not reach 100km/h. Hence, sections of the Based on the students’ observations, the potential
energy of the vehicle decreases as it reaches the
trail were changed. The first part of the track was
ground due to it being converted to kinetic
changed to have more height, but it still did not
energy. Thus, the kinetic energy became 470 J
reach 100km/h. The middle part of the track was
with the vehicle’s mass equal to 8kg and the
changed to descend to 0 meters; therefore, the
velocity at the bottom equal to 10.8 m/s2. This
velocity of the coaster reached 28 m/s. After means that there had been half potential energy
fulfilling the velocity requirement, an idea arose and half kinetic energy at mid-height of the track
to put more thrill into the coaster. This included since the vehicle possessed only half of the
changing the last part of the track to include potential energy and the rest converted to kinetic
double loops. It was found that 28 m/s was not energy. Moreover, it was stated that the kinetic
energy at the bottom of the track is also
equivalent to the potential energy at the top,
meaning that the total energy of the vehicle
remains constant throughout the ride despite the
transformation of potential energy to kinetic
energy. In addition, the students discovered that
the mechanical energy is equivalent to 470 J due
to the system being isolated.

Meanwhile, the actual testing track of the

roller coaster was modified by increasing the
maximum height of the first section of the trail
and decreasing the size of the second part of the
track to 0 meters to achieve the 100 km/h goal of
the activity. However, a double loop was added
in the latter part of the trail, making the 28 m/s
velocity not enough to pass through the double
loop. Thus, the initial energy of the vehicle needs
to be higher than the previous outcome. By
increasing the height of the starting position of
the track, adding a motor, and decreasing the
maximum height of the loop, the velocity
reached 29.7m/s, making it possible for the
vehicle to go through the new track completely.
Therefore, the laboratory exercise successfully
heightened the understanding of energy
conservation, including the fundamental
concepts of potential, kinetic, and mechanical
energy. To further enhance the knowledge of the
conservation of energy, potential, kinetic, and
mechanical energy, and the forces that may
affect it, the students recommend conducting
experiments focusing on the external forces
acting upon an object, such as air resistance and
friction. It is also recommended to avoid errors
in calculations, as it would have an effect on the
outcome of the roller coaster.
Mendoza, Teana Princess D. & Abaño,
Daphnie Anjonette B.
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