Conservation of Mechanical Energy
BlackBoard Notes

======================= Photo - Click for a Larger Version =============================

======================= First Board Section =============================

• Is mechanical energy conserved for a ball in free fall?
• E = K + U_g
  • where K = ½mv² and U_g = mgy

======================= Second Board Section =============================

• Prediction graph:
  • Draw on graph paper
  • Draw prediction before doing the experiment
  • Predictions are not graded (but follow-up questions are)
• Calculations:
  • Do calculations in Excel!
  • Don't round energy calculations
• Keep same number of sig. figs. as in data table

======================= Third Board Section =============================

• Logger Pro Graph:
  • Print in landscape mode
  • Circle the row of the data point used for your calculations
  • Staple to Prediction graph and hand them in (make sure your names are on the graph)
• (Note: The following may not be needed since the order of experiments has changed!)
• Next two weeks:
  • No journal in Excel. Labs will be completed by filling in an instruction sheet
  • Lab instructions will be printed for you and available in lab

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©	St. Lawrence University	Department of Physics

Revised: 13 Jul 2026

Canton, NY 13617