Thursday, March 27, 2008

Journal Entry 3/27

What type(s) of energy can be identified in the system in the initial state?

There is elastic potential energy in the system because the spring is being compressed.

What type(s) of energy can be identified in the system in its final state?

In the final state of this system, the car has gravitational potential energy (more so than in the before state).

Is there any work done on this system? How do you know?

No work was done on the system because there were no external forces influencing the objects.

How does the total energy of the system in the initial state compare to the total energy of the system in the final state?

The total energy of the system in the initial state equals the total energy in the final system. The elastic potential energy was converted into kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy. The gravitational potential energy is larger than the kinetic energy because the car is at the peak of the track. Therefore it is at the highest point away from the ground. The kinetic energy cause the car to move though, hence its presence in the final state.