Potential Energy/Kinetic Energy

Abstract

Objectives: Students will: 1. use modeling to calculate the spring constant of a super ball 2. use modeling to predict the elastic bounce (spring constant of other balls) This will help the student understand the elastic potential energy, kinetic energy, restoring force of a ball bounced at an angle, period, frequency of springs in simple harmonic motion Modeling will allow students to graph, visualize the phenomenon of elasticity. Using the graph – predict the height of a bounced ball or determine the spring constant of different balls. Students will use TI 83, 84 calculators to find vectors using the sci tools function vectors, calculate k, graph the functions of the equations used to predict forces, elastic PE, k (spring constant / elasticity function) or x (distances)