The "Rubber Band Cart Launcher" experiment was conducted with an electronic force probe, a Photo gate velocity timer, red air glider, an air track, and a rubber band. The red air glider was pushed against a rubber band (at varying lengths between 0.01 meters and 0.05 meters). When the glider was released it moved down the air track and its velocity was detected by the photogate device. The air track's plane remained at a neutral incline. Two trials were conducted in order to identify and minimize human error. As was expected, the farther the glider was pushed against the rubber band, the greater velocity it sustained when released down the track. We recorded the data and designed a graph with the Vernier app on our iPads. An "LOL" chart was also used to describe the Law of Conservation of Energy in this experiment.
Ex: Rubber Band
LIIx O LxII
Beginning System Energy
Energy After
This experiment satisfies the question, "How are energy and velocity related?" The greater the energy, the faster the velocity is achieved. We also discovered, using the Law of Conservation of Energy, that energy was not gained but was merely transferred. The rubber band created potential energy that was transferred over to the glider as kinetic energy. Our graph shows the data points are slightly off the best- fit line, proving some human error still occurred.
Real-World Connection:
A wrestler uses an attack move that applies a similar physics concept. They often lean against the ropes or boundaries of the arena in order to provide greater kinetic energy for their attack against an opponent.
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