The way we approached this lab was to conduct three experiments that would give us the needed variables to calculate work and energy the was used during the experiments. For example, we went outside of the classroom to walk up a flight of stairs, run up a flight of stairs, and pull a weighted backpack up a certain height. With these steps taken, we measured the height of the flight of stairs, the time intervals during all trials, the mass of the backpack, and the angle of the stairs so we could use the concept of work and energy to calculate work and power output during these trials. The mathematical calculations that were used were simply work=mgh, power=energy/time, and velocity=distance/time. The data that was recorded during this lab was used in conjunction with these mentioned formulas to calculate the work and power that we used during each trial.
To begin with, we went outside of the classroom to an area that had stairs and an upper level that we could use to set up a rig with a pulley and a thin rope that we could use to pull up the backpacks. Then, the professor set up the rig and we began to pull the backpacks up one at a time. There were three backpacks that were each lifted one time all the way to the top of the rig, and the time interval was taken for later calculations. Also, the height of the flight of stairs was taken by measuring the height of one stair and then multiplied by the total amount of stairs. As for the angle, it was given to us by the professor. Next, the flight of stairs were climbed once walking and the other time running per the needs of the experiment; the time interval was recorded for later calculations. Last, we went into the classroom to calculate the work and power values that were used during each trial as well as other calculations that were asked of us.
This is the calculation for part B of the conclusion questions.
This is the calculation for the conclusion questions part C.
These are the calculations for part D.
In conclusion, we were able to use the data that we recorded during the experiment trials to obtain a work and power value. The simple experiment was completed with the help of physics knowledge and mathematics, yet again proving that these tools prove valuable in our world. As far as error for this lab experiment, there may have been some slight error because we timed our time intervals with a simple wrist watch and measured the height of one step of the stairs with a meter stick so none of these objects are as precise as tools as others that were not available to us to measure these variables. But, I think that with the given tools the approximate values for work and power probably had a ten percent standard deviation. Also, the kinetic energy was not taken into account for the calculations of work and power during the trails because it's not needed per the physic's skills to calculate work or power during these trials. As for the error this introduces, I think there was not much of an error introduced because the calculations for work and power didn't include kinetic energy at all. Overall, the link between energy and power was used in order to obtain the asked for calculations so I believe we did complete the task of finding some relationship between work and power. Lastly, I was not able to correct the upside down photos so sorry about the upside down view.
last calc--60 seconds per minute rather than 3600. This turns out to require 35 hours of pedaling to heat the water for the shower you would definitely need when you were done pedaling!
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