Lab 13: Magnetic Conservation of Energy

1.     Lab 13: Magnetic Conservation of Energy

a.      Lab conducted by Mohammed Karim (author), and Lynel.

2.     Objective –  Derive an equation that can be used for magnetic potential energy. First, find an equation, using a power fit, for force and integrate for magnetic potential energy.

3.     Theory/Introduction – Prior to this lab, we have equations that are modeled after change in height and speed and even springs. However, we don’t have anything that relates position and magnetic forces. This lab will aim to find an equation that can be used.

4.     Apparatus/Procedure

           The apparatus is a track in which the carts can glide through. Air is blown into the track so that it can model a frictionless track. What we did was attach a magnet to the end of the track and the cart. We then move the cart toward the magnet and record the distance the magnet keeps the block from it. We did this over the course of many different angles until we had enough data to plot our data. We set this data up as a power fit and integrated it to find the work.

5.     Data Tables

Figure 13.1 – Shows power fit. The values are all found in the box. This is the Force of the magnet. If it is integrated, we get the equation for magnetic potential energy.

Figure 13.2 - Shows the values of theta and r, being the distance from the magnet.

Figure 13.3 – Shows the total energy and conservation of energy in the system.

6.     Conclusion – We accurately modeled an equation for magnetic potential energy. As this was part of conservation of energy, we see that this also fits into the whole conserved energy graph shown in figure 13.3 accurately. Of course the total energy wasn’t fully conserved as there was some friction in the air track and certain uncertainties in the value could have altered it, but for the most part, the graph fits in.