Experiment 4:

Work, Power and Energy

Chan, Jan Chester Z.

Cruz, Eleazar John H.
Cruz, Ivy Beatrice M.
Cusi, Sean Hirshel L.
3BIO2

Department of Biological
Sciences
College of Science
University of Santo Tomas
Espana, Manila Philippines

Objectives
To demonstrate conservation of mechanical energy
To measure change in kinetic and potential energies as a

ball moves in free fall

To determine power output when going up and downstairs

Activity 1: Power

Important formulas/equations
Weight=mg

m = mass
g = gravitational acceleration of the earth (9.8 m/sec 2)
Work=Fs

F = force
s = displacement
wherein, 1 N x m = 1 joule (J)

Important formulas/equations

Power= =

wherein, joule/s = watt (W)

Results
Vertical distance between second floor and third floor = 5.12 m
MEMBER

CHAN

CRUZ, E.

CRUZ, I.

CUSI

Weight (N)

647 N

637 N

470 N

909 N

GOING UP
Work (J)

3310 J

3260 J

2410 J

4650 J

Time (s)

6.38 s

6.83 s

10.2 s

6.72 s

Power (W)

519 W

477 W

237 W

692 W

GOING DOWN
Work (J)

3310 J

3260 J

2410 J

4650 J

Time (s)

8.40 s

8.60 s

11.4 s

9.38 s

Power (W)

394 W

379 W

211 W

496 W

Activity 2: Energy of a Tossed Ball

Important formulas/equations

Kinetic energy
KE=m
m = mass
v = velocity
Potential energy
PE=mgh
m = mass
g = gravitational acceleration of the earth (9.8 m/sec 2)
h = height above earths surface
wherein, 1 N x m= 1 Joule (J)

Important formulas/equations

Mechanical energy
ME = KE + PE
ME = m + mgh

Results

Fig A Graph of potential energy versus time

Fig B Graph of kinetic energy versus time

Fig C Graph of mechanical energy versus time

Activity 2: Energy of a Tossed Ball

Principle of Conservation of Energy
Principle of Conservation of Mechanical Energy

Post Laboratory Questions and Applications

1. Compare the work that you do when you go upstairs to

the work that you do in going downstairs. Based on this,

can you explain why it is more difficult to go upstairs than
downstairs?

Post Laboratory Questions and Applications

2. A certain professor finds it easy to go upstairs from the

ground floor to the third floor of the Main Building by going

up the second floor using the main stairs, walking along
the corridor of the accounting division and using the side
stairs to go to the third floor. Is there a basis to this from
the point of view of physics?

Post Laboratory Questions and Applications

3. It is 5 minutes before your 7:00 AM class in the fourth

floor and you are still in the ground floor. Will you run or
walk or walk upstairs in order not to be late? Assume that
your power output is 15 watts and 20 watts when walking
and running, respectively. The vertical distance between
the ground floor and the fourth floor is 12m and that you
weigh 750N.

Post Laboratory Questions and Applications

4. An object is thrown vertically up. Neglecting air

resistance, how is the change in the potential energy of

the object related the change in its kinetic energy?

References
[1]

Grate, Conservation of Mechanical Energy. Retrieved on 20 Sep.

2015 from https://www.boundless.com/physics/textbooks/boundlessphysics-textbook/work-and-energy-6/potential-energy-andconservation-of-energy-64/conservation-of-mechanical- energy-2835219/
[2]
Wolfs, F. The Conservation of Energy, Retrieved on September 20,
2015 fromhttp://teacher.pas.rochester.edu/
phy121/lecturenotes/Chapter08/Chapter8.html
[3]
Boundless, What is Potential Energy? Retrieved om 20 Sep. 2015
from https://www.boundless.com/physics/textbooks/boundlessphysics-textbook/work-and-energy-6/potential-energy-andconservation-of-energy-64/what-is-potential-energy-280-634/