Energy of a Free Rolling Cart on an

Inclined Plane
When a frictionless cart is projected up an inclined plane, the cart slows down until it reaches the
top of its path and then speeds up on its way back down. In terms of energy, when the cart is
released it has kinetic energy, K. As it rises up the incline it slows down, loses kinetic energy,
and gains gravitational potential energy, U. As it starts down, still rolling freely, the stored
gravitational potential energy is converted back into kinetic energy as the cart falls.

If there is no work done by frictional forces or the normal force to the incline, the total
mechanical energy will remain constant. In this experiment, we will see if this works out for the
freely rolling cart.

In this experiment, we will study these energy changes using a optical motion Detector.

OBJECTIVES
 Measure the change in the kinetic and potential energies as a cart rolls freely up and down
an inclined plane.
 See how the total energy of the cart changes during the motion of the cart up and down the
incline.

MATERIALS
Power Macintosh or Windows PC Low friction track
LoggerPro software Inclinometer to measure the incline
angle of the track

LsbQuest Mini Low friction cart to roll on track

Optical motion encoder Lab jack to elevate one end of the track

PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS
For each question, consider the free motion of a cart projected up a frictionless ramp, starting
just as the cart is released to just before it is caught. Assume that there is very little air
resistance.
1. What form or forms of energy does the cart have while momentarily at rest at the top of the
path?

2. What form or forms of energy does the cart have while in motion near the bottom of the
path?

3. Sketch a graph of velocity vs. time for the cart.

4. Sketch a graph of kinetic energy vs. time for the cart.

5. Sketch a graph of potential energy vs. time for the cart.

Physics with Computers 16 - 1

6. If there are no frictional forces acting on the cart, how is the change in the cart’s potential
energy related to the change in kinetic energy?

PROCEDURE
1. Measure and record the mass of the cart in kg in data table.

2. Connect the Motion Detector to DIG/SONIC 1 of the LabQuest Mini. Attach the Motion Detector
to the end of the track, on the opposite end from the bumper.

3. Open the experiment file indicated by the lab instructor. Click “Connect” when prompted as
application opens. Three graphs will be displayed, the vertical height of the cart above the
motion detector and the velocity of the cart, and at the top, graphs of kinetic energy,
potential energy, and total energy, all plotted on the same graph. Enter the mass of the cart in
the dialog box at the bottom left of the computer display.

3. Using the lab jack elevate the end of the ramp at the opposite end from the motion detector
about 4 degrees initially, as measured by the angle measuring device. Record angle in dialog
box on screen and in the data table.

4. Hold the cart on the track close to the Motion Detector. In this step, you will project the cart
up the ramp and let it slide up and then fall back toward the Motion Detector. Have your
partner click the space bar to begin data collection. When the START button changes from
green to red project the cart up the ramp after you hear the Motion Detector begin to click. Be
careful not to project it so forcefully that it hits the bumper at the upper end of the ramp.
Verify that the height vs. time graph corresponding to the free-fall motion is parabolic in
shape, without spikes or flat regions, before you continue. This step may require some
practice. If necessary, repeat the toss, until you get a good graph. When you have good data
on the screen, proceed to the Analysis section. Then return to procedure step 5 for the trial
with larger angle.

5. Using the Lab Jack raise the angle of the ramp to about 8 degrees, record the new angle in
data table and in dialog box on screen, and repeat Procedure step 4 and the analysis section
for the new angle.

16 - 2 Physics with Computers

DATA TABLE
Mass of the cart (kg)

Position Time Height Velocity U K E

(s) (m) (m/s) (J) (J) (J)

After release

Top of path

Before catch

CASE 1: ANGLE = __________

Position Time Height Velocity U K E

(s) (m) (m/s) (J) (J) (J)

After release

Top of path

Before catch

CASE 2: ANGLE = __________

ANALYSIS
1. Click on the Examine tool, , and move the mouse across the height or velocity graphs of the
motion of the cart to answer these questions.

Physics with Computers 16 - 3

 a. Identify the portion of each graph where the cart had just left your hands and was in free
motion. Determine the height and velocity of the cart at this time. Enter your values in the
data table.
b. Identify the point on each graph where the cart was at the top of its path. Determine the
time, height, and velocity of the cart at this point. Enter your values in the data table.
c. Find a time where the cart was moving downward, but a short time before it was caught.
Measure and record the height and velocity of the cart at that time.
d. For each of the three points in the data table, calculate the Potential Energy (U), Kinetic
Energy (K), and Total Energy (E), with the position of the Motion Detector as the zero
reference point of your height h. The formulae are shown in step 3 below.
3. How well does this part of the experiment demonstrate the conservation of energy?
Explain.

3. Logger Pro will also graph the cart’s kinetic energy according to K=½mv2 since you have
supplied the cart’s mass , as well as the cart’s potential energy according to U = mgh, since
you have supplied the angle of the ramp, which along with the measured distance from the
motion detector allows the computer to calculate the height h. Here m is the mass of the cart,
g the free-fall acceleration, and h is the vertical height of the cart measured from the position
of the Motion Detector.

4. Logger Pro will also calculate Total Energy, the sum of K and U, for plotting. These are
ploted as the top graph in the display. Record the 3 graphs printing the display, one copy for
each lab group member, to be analyzed and submitted with report

5. Inspect your kinetic energy vs. time graph for the free motion of the cart. Explain its shape.
Consider only the portion of the graphs when the cart was freely moving.

6. Inspect your potential energy vs. time graph for the free motion of the cart. Explain its shape.

7. Inspect your total energy vs. time graph for the free motion of the cart. Explain its shape.

8. Compare your energy graphs predictions (from the Preliminary Questions) to the real data
from your data table.

9. What do you conclude from this graph about the total energy of the cart as it moved up and
down in free motion? Does the total energy remain constant? Should the total energy remain
constant? Why? If it does not, what sources of extra energy are there or where could the
missing energy have gone?

QUESTIONS
1. What would change in this experiment if you used a very light cart?

2. What would happen to your experimental results if you entered the wrong mass for the cart in
this experiment?

16 - 4 Physics with Computers