Extension Question for Experiment 1(2 points)%0D%0AUsing a ball with a different mass changed the %0D%0A of the ball at the bottom of the ramp, which is the energy of the ball due to its motion. Instead of measuring energy directly, we measured and compared %0D%0A in order to compare the energy levels of the two different balls at the bottom of the ramp.
Using a ball with a different mass changed the potential energy of the ball at the bottom of the ramp, which is the energy of the ball due to its position. Instead of measuring energy directly, we measured and compared the heights the balls reached at the bottom of the ramp in order to compare the potential energy levels of the two different balls at the bottom of the ramp.
The missing words from the question are "(1) speed", and "(2) height".
Using a ball with a different mass changed the (1) speed of the ball at the bottom of the ramp, which is the energy of the ball due to its motion. Instead of measuring energy directly, we measured and compared (2) height in order to compare the energy levels of the two different balls at the bottom of the ramp.
To measure and compare the energy levels of the two different balls at the bottom of the ramp, instead of directly measuring energy, we can measure and compare another variable known as the speed of the ball at the bottom of the ramp. The speed of an object is directly related to its kinetic energy, which is the energy it possesses due to its motion.
To understand why we use speed as a measurement, let's briefly talk about the concept of kinetic energy. Kinetic energy depends on two factors: mass and speed. The mass of an object determines how much energy it can store, while the speed determines how fast it can transfer that energy. In other words, a heavier object can store more energy but needs to move faster to transfer that energy.
In this experiment, we used balls with different masses. By rolling these balls down a ramp, we allowed them to convert their potential energy (due to their elevated position) into kinetic energy (due to their motion). The higher the mass of the ball, the more potential energy it initially has, which means it has the potential to possess more kinetic energy.
To indirectly compare the energy levels of the two different balls at the bottom of the ramp, we measured their speed. Speed is easier to measure because it is a scalar quantity (just magnitude) and can be determined using a simple equation: speed = distance/time. By measuring the distance the ball traveled along the ramp and the time it took to reach the bottom, we can calculate the speed of the ball.
Since kinetic energy is directly proportional to the square of the speed (KE=1/2 * mass * speed^2), comparing the speeds of the balls will give us an idea of how their kinetic energies compare. If Ball A has a higher speed at the bottom of the ramp compared to Ball B, it means Ball A has more kinetic energy and thus more energy due to its motion.
So, by measuring and comparing the speed of the balls at the bottom of the ramp, we can indirectly compare their energy levels and determine how the mass of the ball affects its energy.