2-11-09

Today on this warm Wedensday morning, class started after and elongated 4th period due to PSSA testing. Mr. Manning started off by telling the class today's objectives and activities that are to be worked on this period. Finish Lab I Wasn't Speeding Physics Classroom
 * __Objectives__**

Finishing the lab, parnters were to finish the calculations using the information gathered yesterday after sliding a cart down a ramp twice from two different heights and recording its time in seconds. After the calculations were finished they were to answer the conclusion and observation questions on the back of the Total Mechanical Energy Lab handout.
 * __Total Mechanical Enery Lab__**

This lab dealt with total mechanical energy and how to calculate it. To find the **Etot** students must find the **Ep** and **Ek** of the cart first. For each trial the students were to measure each part to these equations by plugging numbers into other useful formulas. After doing so they recorded each answer into the table on the back of the worksheet. They did this twice for each trial.
 * Etot = Ep + Ek**
 * Potential Energy = Ep = m x g x h**
 * Kinetic Energy = Ek = ½ m x v²**

This worksheet for all student is due Tuesday. Students are to use the information given on this worksheet to physically prove to the judge that the driver which hit a bycicle was not speeding. We know that the skid mark was 20 meters long, the speed limit is 45 miles per hour and 1 m/s is equal to 2.24mph. We must apply our knowlege of Energy and Work in order to find out how fast the car was actually going and prove to the traffic court judge the car was not speeding.
 * __I Wasn't Speeding__**

The physics classroom is an online websites students are to visit. We were required to read parts b, c, and d. In part b, we learn about potential energy. Potential Energy is the stored energy of position possessed by an object. We learn about two different types of potential energy, gravitiational potential energy and elastic potential energy. Gravitational potential energy is the potential energy that is stored in an object due to its vertical position or height. This energy is due to the gravitational pull of the Earth on an object. This form of potential energy is calculated by, **PEgrav= m x g x h.** Elastic potential energy on the other hand is the energy stored in elastic materials due to their stretching or compressing. This is calculated by **PEspring = ½ k • x²**
 * __Physics Classroom__**

Part c of the physics classroom tells about Kinetic Energy, the energy of motion. The different types od kinetic energy inclue vibrationa, rotational, tranlastional, etc. Kinetic energy is calculated using the formula, **KE = ½ m x v

**

Finally part d of the physics classroom informs us about Mechanical Energy. This energy is defined as energy aquired by the objects upon which work is done. Mechanical energy in simpler form is energy possessed by an object due to its position or in motion, meaning it can be potential energy or kinetic energy. Any object can have mechanical energy if it is in motion or in a position which is vulnerable to motion (containing potential energy) also known as zero potential energy position.