Overview
 
You have likely heard that “energy is conserved.”   This lab explores whether or not that is actually true.  You will set a mass on the end of a spring into oscillation and determine its gravitational and spring potential energies, as well as its kinetic energy, at various positions in its oscillation to see if the energies add up to the same total.  The sum of the kinetic and potential energies is called the mechanical energy.
 
There are two parts to this experiment. Part I concerns theory and Part II, the experiment.  Ideally, you have tried Part I before arriving in lab so that you will have plenty of time to complete the worksheet.  If not, start with Part II.  Collect the data for Questions 4-6 on the worksheet, then return to Part I. 
  
 
Part I
Part II
Worksheet
Index