Magnet Car; Energy

 

Analysis

 

Calculate the efficiency of the bumper for the level track.  Does your result depend on the velocity of the cart before it hits the bumper?

- Yes. In order to find the efficiency of the bumper we need to find both the initial velocity just before the cart hits the bumper and also the the final velocity of after the cart hits the bumper. 

Conclusion

What is the efficiency of the magnetic bumpers?  How much energy is dissipated in an impact? State your results in the most general terms supported by your analysis. Is the effect of friction significant?

- The efficiency of the bumpers, from the data we collected, was 69 + 1.85%. The average final kinetic energy was 0.0116J. So by finding the average final kinetic energy and using our efficiency value we found, this results in 0.008J lost due to the magnetic bumper. Based on our calculations we found that the friction coefficient was 0.042, which is a somewhat small number, and although it is small enough to be insignificant it can also be significant. 

 

Compare your value of the efficiency (with uncertainty) with the value obtained by your partners procedure.  Are the values consistent?  Which way to measure the efficiency of the magnetic bumper do you think is better?  Why?