PASCO
 
MAIN PROCEDURE
In this experiment, students will use a Motion Sensor to discover the relationship between the energy change of a system and the time over which this change takes place.
    1. Hold the textbook or other flat object about 20 centimeters above the ground.
    2. Click the Start button, then very slowly raise the textbook to a height of about 1 meter. Click the stop button.
    3. Repeat step 2, but raise the textbook from 20 cm to 1 meter in about half the time.
    4. Repeat step 2, but raise the textbook from 20 cm to 1 meter in about half the time compared to step 3.
    1. Describe the energy changes as the textbook is raised from 0.2 meters to 1 meter.
    2. What is the meaning of the slope of the Gravitational Energy-Time graph?
    3. Qualitatively describe the slope of the Gravitational Energy-Time graph in the three data runs.
    4. What was done differently between the three data runs?
    5. Assuming you started exactly at 0.2 m and stopped the object at 1 meter in all three data runs, compare the amount of energy gained by the textbook in each data run.
    6. If you had to lift objects all day long, which of type of lifting (data run 1, 2, or 3) would make you the least tired? Explain.
    7. Scientists know the slope of an energy-time graph as the power. Write a simple sentence that describes power in terms of energy and time.
    8. A popular unit of power is called horsepower. Explain how this unit came to be used and its original meaning. You may have to research this a little bit.