A previous article1 described the gravitational potential energy and the kinetic energy of a bouncing ball and showed that the total of the two actually dropped below the “rest energy” situation of the stationary ball on the floor. The missing energy is in the form of elastic potential energy of the ball and floor. This paper describes the use of probes and sensors to help quantify all three energy forms in order to more completely demonstrate the conservation of mechanical energy.

Topics
Energy conversion, Energy economics, Energy forms, Mechanical energy, Elastic energy, Gravitation, Missing energy, Educational aids
1.
W. A.
Turner
and
G. W.
Wllis
, “
The energetics of a bouncing ball
,”
Phys. Teach.
37
,
496
–
498
(Nov.
1999
).
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2.
In practice, I have found that it is easier to set up columns beforehand and use the energy graphs to help me “tune” the sine of the angle until it gives the expected results, as opposed to trying to measure such a small angle accurately.
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© 2006 American Association of Physics Teachers.
2006
American Association of Physics Teachers
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