Supplementary Conceptual Physics Labs

Purpose
In this experiment, you will lift a ball and drop it. You will determine and compare the potential energy of the ball before it’s dropped to the kinetic energy of the ball after right before it hits the ground.
Discussion
When an object is lifted, the work done to lift the object is transformed into potential energy [...]

In this experiment, you will determine what advantage—if any—there is in using an inclined plane to move an object to a higher elevation. Why are ramps used when lifting heavy objects? Does it make the task easier (requires less force)? Does it make the movement shorter (requires less distance)? Does it make the effort more efficient (requires less work)? Perhaps it does several of these; maybe it does none of them. In this experiment, the cart will act as the heavy object. Your task will be to move your cart a vertical distance of 20 cm above the tabletop. You will arrange a series of ramps (inclined planes) at different angles to accomplish this task. You will measure the force needed to move a cart up the incline. You will also measure the distance through which that force would be applied to finish the job. You will then calculate the work required to lift an object using an inclined plane. By the end of the experiment, you will be able to identify what an inclined plane can do for you in terms of force, distance, and work.

In this activity, you will investigate the effect that stopping time has on stopping force when momentum changes. Allowing an object to keep moving as it is being caught extends the stopping time which in turns reduces the force acting on the object. In this lab students will put this theory to the test as they throw an egg to another student who must catch it with only their bare hands from an increasing distance. Who will figure out the principals of impulse and who will end up with egg on their face?

In this activity, you will investigate the relationship between weight and mass. Mass and weight are different quantities. Mass is a measure of an object’s inertia, the extent to which an object resists changes to its state of motion. Weight is a measure of the interaction between an object and the planet the object is nearest to. Usually that planet is the earth. The weight of an object is related to its mass. In this activity we will find out what that relationship is.

In this activity, you will observe the motion of a variety of objects under a variety of conditions. You will interpret your observations to learn the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration.

PurposeIn this activity, you will compare the path of a projectile launched horizontally with that of an object in free fall.Discussion
Suppose a ball bearing (BB) were launched horizontally at the same time another BB were dropped from the same height. Which one would reach the ground first?
Required Equipment
Vertical Acceleration Demonstrator, Ring Stand and Base, S [...]

Purpose
In this activity, you will use graphs to investigate motion. The graphs will represent your own motion and will be drawn by the computer as you move.Discussion
Graphs can be used to represent motion. For example, if you track the position of an object as time goes by, you can make a plot of position vs [...]

Purpose
In this activity, students will investigate electromagnetic induction, the principle behind electric generators.
Discussion
In 1820, Hans Christian Ørsted found that electricity could create magnetism. Scientists were convinced that if electricity could create magnetism, magnetism could create electricity. Still, 11 years would pass before the induction of electricity from magnetism would be discovered and understood. The best [...]

Purpose
In this activity, students will investigate the principles that make electric motors possible.
Discussion
Perhaps the most important invention of the 19th century was the electric motor. You use a motor whenever you use electric power to make something move. A motor is used to start the engine of a car. Motors are used to spin compact [...]

Purpose
In this activity, students will investigate the electric origin of magnetic fields.
Discussion
In Magnetic Personality, you investigated the magnetic field around various configurations of bar magnets. But where does the magnetic field come from? What’s going on inside a bar magnet to make it magnetic? In this activity, you will discover the origin of all magnetic [...]