# Conservation of Energy

The law of conservation of energy states that the energy of a closed system is constant. Like momentum, energy can't be reduced or increased, but energy does change form.

k =  kg/s²
m = kg

Question: What energies are being traded in the spring and mass system?

elastic potential energy and kinetic energy

Question: When is the velocity the highest?

The kinetic energy and velocity are highest when the spring energy is lowest, at the point of equilibrium. (The dotted line)

Question: How does the total energy change as the spring oscillates.

The total energy is always the same for the same mass and spring constant.

With an actual spring system the energy would eventually change forms into thermal energy, but this simulation doesn't include heat loss.

The total energy is always the same value. This means we can build an equation that sets the total energy at one time equal to the total energy at any other time.

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, but it can change forms.

# $$E_i = E_f$$ $$K + U_g + U_s = K + U_g + U_s$$

$$K$$ = kinetic energy [J]
$$U_g$$ = gravitational potential energy [J]
$$U_s$$ = elastic potential energy [J]

We've only covered 3 types of energy. As we learn more types the equation can gain new terms. We don't have to include every term in the equation. Only include types of energy that change.

• If an object changes speed, include kinetic energy.
• If an object moves vertically, include gravitational potential energy.
• If a spring is compressed, include spring potential energy.
• For now, we will assume no thermal energy loss, but we will explore it in the next section, thermodynamics.

Example: Build a conservation of energy equation for dropping a ball.
strategy

This equation only needs to include kinetic and gravitational potential energy. Initial kinetic energy is zero because the ball starts at rest. Choosing the final height to be zero will set the final gravitational potential energy to zero.

solution $$U_g = K$$ $$mgh = \frac{1}{2}mv^2$$ $$\cancel{m}gh = \frac{1}{2} \cancel{m}v^2$$ $$gh = \frac{1}{2}v^2$$ $$\boxed{v^2 = 0+2gh}$$

This energy equation happens to be the same as one of the equations of motion for constant acceleration.

$$v^2 = u^2 + 2a\Delta x$$
Example: A ball falls from rest off a 0.80 m table. Before we solve this problem, what final and initial energies can we set to zero?

The velocity is at rest initially. This means that the initial kinetic energy will be zero as well.

We can choose to make height zero at the bottom of the table. This means there is no final gravitational potential energy.

How fast is the ball going just before it hits the ground?
solution $$K_i + U_i = K_f + U_f$$ $$0+U_g = K+0$$ $$mgh = \tfrac{1}{2}mv^{2}$$ $$gh = \tfrac{1}{2}v^{2}$$ $$(9.8 \, \mathrm{\tfrac{m}{s^2}})(0.80\,\mathrm{m}) = \tfrac{1}{2}v^{2}$$ $$15.68\, \mathrm{\tfrac{m^2}{s^2}} = v^{2}$$ $$\pm 3.959\, \mathrm{ \tfrac{m}{s} } = v$$
Example: If you throw a ball straight up at 10 m/s, how high will it go?
solution $$K = U_g$$ $$\tfrac{1}{2}mv^{2} = mgh$$ $$\tfrac{1}{2}v^{2} = gh$$ $$\tfrac{1}{2}(10)^{2} = 9.8h$$ $$50 = 9.8h$$ $$5.10 \, \mathrm{m} = h$$
Question: Which frictionless slope will give you the highest speed at the bottom? Explain your choice.

Each path starts with the same gravitational potential energy. This energy is converted to the same kinetic energy.

They will all have the same speed, but in different directions.

Example: A 0.43 kg soccer ball kicked at 10 m/s rolls down a 30 m tall hill. How fast will the ball be moving at the bottom of the hill?
solution

Some of the energy is converted into heat through friction, and into rotational kinetic energy. We can't track those energy types so it will limit the accuracy of our answer.

$$U_{g} + K_{i} = K_{f}$$ $$mgh + \tfrac{1}{2}mu^{2} = \tfrac{1}{2}mv^{2}$$ $$gh + \tfrac{1}{2}u^{2} = \tfrac{1}{2}v^{2}$$ $$(9.8)(30) + \frac{1}{2}(10)^{2} = \frac{1}{2}v^{2}$$ $$294 + 50 = \tfrac{1}{2}v^{2}$$ $$344 = \tfrac{1}{2}v^{2}$$ $$\pm 26.2 \mathrm{\tfrac{m}{s}} = v$$
Example: A roller coaster cart starts at rest 328 ft high on the top of the first drop on "Superman: Escape from Krypton" at Six Flags Magic Mountain. How fast is the cart going at the bottom of the hill?
solution $$328\,\mathrm{ft} \left(\frac{0.3048 \,\mathrm{m}}{1 \,\mathrm{ft}} \right) = 100 \,\mathrm{m}$$
$$U_{g} = K$$ $$mgh = \tfrac{1}{2}mv^{2}$$ $$gh = \tfrac{1}{2}v^{2}$$ $$(9.8)(100) = \tfrac{1}{2}v^{2}$$ $$980 = \tfrac{1}{2}v^{2}$$ $$\pm 44.3 \, \mathrm{\tfrac{m}{s}} = v$$
Example: A frictionless roller coaster starts from rest at point A. What is the velocity of the roller coaster at points B, C, and D. Assume each grid square is 10 m × 10 m.
solution

Conservation of energy for gravitational and kinetic energy is independent of mass.

$$\text{point A}$$ $$E_A = mgh$$ $$\frac{E_A}{m} = gh$$ $$\frac{E_A}{m} = (9.8)(100)$$ $$\frac{E_A}{m} = 980 \, \mathrm{\tfrac{J}{kg}}$$

Now we can set the energy / mass at point A equal to the energy / mass at points B,C,D.

$$\text{point B}$$ $$E_A = E_B$$ $$980 = gh + \tfrac{1}{2}v^2$$ $$980 = (9.8)(8) + \tfrac{1}{2}v^2$$ $$980 - 78.4 = \tfrac{1}{2}v^2$$ $$1803.2 = v^2$$ $$v = 42.5 \, \mathrm{\tfrac{m}{s}}$$
$$\text{point C}$$ $$980 = (9.8)(47) + \tfrac{1}{2}v^2$$ $$v = 32.2 \, \mathrm{\tfrac{m}{s}}$$
$$\text{point D}$$ $$980 = (9.8)(20) + \tfrac{1}{2}v^2$$ $$v = 39.6 \, \mathrm{\tfrac{m}{s}}$$

Example: A ball on a 1.0 meter long string is let go at a 30° angle. Calculate the velocity at 45° and 90° as it swings back and forth.
convert angles into heights $$h = (1.0)sin(30) = 0.5 \,\mathrm{m}$$ $$h = (1.0)sin(90) = 1\,\mathrm{m}$$ $$h = (1.0)sin(45) = 0.71\,\mathrm{m}$$
solution 90° $$K_i + U_i = K_f + U_f$$ $$U_{gi} = K +U_{gf}$$ $$mgh_i = \tfrac{1}{2}mv^2 + mgh_f$$ $$gh_i = \tfrac{1}{2}v^2 + gh_f$$ $$(9.8)(-0.5) = \tfrac{1}{2}v^2 + (9.8)(-1)$$ $$(9.8)(0.5) = \tfrac{1}{2}v^2$$ $$3.13 \, \tfrac{m}{s} = v$$
solution 45° $$K_i + U_i = K_f + U_f$$ $$U_{gi} = K +U_{gf}$$ $$mgh_i = \tfrac{1}{2}mv^2 + mgh_f$$ $$gh_i = \tfrac{1}{2}v^2 + gh_f$$ $$(9.8)(-0.5) = \tfrac{1}{2}v^2 + (9.8)(-0.71)$$ $$(9.8)(0.21) = \tfrac{1}{2}v^2$$ $$2.03 \, \tfrac{m}{s} = v$$
Example: A 0.20 kg ball is placed on a spring compressed down 0.15 m. The internet says that your spring has a spring constant of 200.0 kg/s².

How fast should the ball be moving right after it leaves the spring?
solution

If we define h to be zero at the spring equilibrium, then h=x.

$$U_s + U_g = K$$ $$\tfrac{1}{2}kx^{2} + mgh= \tfrac{1}{2}mv^{2}$$ $$\tfrac{1}{2}kx^{2} + mg x= \tfrac{1}{2}mv^{2}$$ $$\tfrac{1}{2}(200)(-0.15)^{2} + (0.2)(9.8)(-0.15)= \tfrac{1}{2}(0.2)v^{2}$$ $$1.956 = 0.1v^{2}$$ $$4.42 \, \mathrm{\tfrac{m}{s}} = v$$

How high will the ball go?
solution $$K = U_g$$ $$\tfrac{1}{2}mv^{2} = mgh$$

We know from the previous question that the total energy is 1.956 J.

$$1.956 = (0.20)(9.8)h$$ $$1.956 = 1.96h$$ $$1.00 \, \mathrm{m} = h$$
dampening:   none full
k =  kg/s²
m =  kg

Example: How fast is the mass moving at the spring equilibrium (x = 0).
Use the default values.
solution

We will define h = 0 at x = 0. This makes x = h.

$$\tfrac{1}{2}mv^2 + mgh + \tfrac{1}{2}kx^2$$ $$\tfrac{1}{2}mv^2 + mgx + \tfrac{1}{2}kx^2$$

The initial energy will be when the spring and height are at equilibrium (x = 0). The final energy will be at the lowest point, when the spring is at rest (v = 0).

$$v_i = \, ? \quad x_i =0 \quad \quad \quad \quad v_f = 0 \quad x_f = -150$$ $$\tfrac{1}{2}mv^2 + mgx + \tfrac{1}{2}kx^2 = \tfrac{1}{2}mv^2 + mgx + \tfrac{1}{2}kx^2$$ $$\tfrac{1}{2}mv^2 = mgx + \tfrac{1}{2}kx^2$$ $$\tfrac{1}{2}(13)v^2 = (13)(9.8)(-150) + \tfrac{1}{2}(10)(-150)^2$$ $$6.5v^2 = -19110 + 112500$$ $$6.5v^2 = 93390$$ $$v = \pm 119.9 \tfrac{m}{s}$$

Example: When the dampening is turned on, the spring system slowly settles on a single position. Write an equation to predict that position in terms of the mass and spring constant.
strategy

To build the equation, solve Newton's second law for an acceleration of zero.

solution
$$\sum F = ma$$ $$F_s-F_g = ma$$ $$-kx-mg = 0$$ $$-kx = mg$$ $$\boxed{x = -\frac{mg}{k} }$$

Is this equation correct? Test it out with the simulation.

Open the PhET simulation, switch to the energy lab mode on the bottom right.

Investigation: What is the value of the spring constant?
Use Newton's second law to find the solution.
solution

We need to solve a Newton's second law equation. Add a known mass to the hook and click stop to get the velocity and acceleration to zero.

$$\sum F = ma$$ $$F_s-F_g = ma$$ $$kx-mg = 0$$ $$kx=mg$$ $$k=\frac{mg}{x}$$

We can read mass and gravity directly from the simulation. We can measure the displacement with the ruler. This is easier if you check the displacement box in the top right.

$$m=0.100 \,\mathrm{kg} \quad g=9.8\,\mathrm{\tfrac{m}{s^2}} \quad x=0.17\,\mathrm{m}$$ $$k=\frac{(0.100)(9.8)}{0.17}$$ $$k=5.8 \, \mathrm{\tfrac{kg}{s^2}}$$

Investigation: What is the value of the spring constant?
Use conservation of energy to find the solution.
solution

Conservation of energy requires two different moments in time. This simulation makes velocity impossible to measure, so we must choose two moments where v = 0.

Point one will be at spring equilibrium. Place the 100 kg mass on the hook and let it get exactly at the point of spring equilibrium. This is easier if you check the displacement box in the top right.

Point two will be at the bottom of the springs drop. Make sure dampening is off so we don't lose energy to heat.

$$K_i + U_{gi} + U_{si} = K_f + U_{gf} + U_{sf}$$

The velocity is zero at both moments. If we define height to be zero at the spring equilibrium, then both potential energies are zero at the start.

$$0 = U_g + U_s$$ $$0 = mgx + \tfrac{1}{2}kx^2$$ $$0 = mg + \tfrac{1}{2}kx$$ $$-\tfrac{1}{2}kx = mg$$ $$k=\frac{-2mg}{x}$$

We can read mass and gravity directly from the simulation. We can measure the displacement with the ruler. This is easier if you check the displacement box in the top right. Also slow motion and pause help.

$$m=0.100 \,\mathrm{kg} \quad g=9.8\,\mathrm{\tfrac{m}{s^2}} \quad x=-0.34\,\mathrm{m}$$ $$k=\frac{-2(0.100)(9.8)}{-0.34}$$ $$k=5.8 \, \mathrm{\tfrac{kg}{s^2}}$$

Investigation: Calculate the mass of the red and blue weights.
solution

We can just reuse our method for getting the spring constant, but for mass.

$$k=\frac{mg}{x}$$ $$m=\frac{kx}{g}$$

Place each mass on the hook with dampening on high, and measure how much it displaces the spring.

$$\text{blue mass}$$ $$m=\frac{(5.8)(0.38)}{(9.8)}$$ $$m=0.224\, \mathrm{kg}$$
$$\text{red mass}$$ $$m=\frac{(5.8)(0.61)}{(9.8)}$$ $$m=0.361\, \mathrm{kg}$$