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Understanding the

Rollback

Can

Foundational Theory & How It Works

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Learning Outcomes

  • Understand Kinetic and Potential Energy
  • Understand and experiment with the transfer of energy
  • Apply knowledge of the transfer of energy onto the rollback can experiment
  • Apply knowledge of the kinetic and potential energy onto the experiment

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Table of contents

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Potential Energy

Kinetic Energy

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Transfer of Energy

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Rollback Can

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Kinetic Energy

01

The Energy of Motion

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What is Kinetic Energy

Energy is the ability to do work (move/change things)

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Kinetic Energy is the energy of motion

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If something is moving, it has kinetic energy

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Example: A rolling ball has kinetic energy because it is moving

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Potential

Energy

02

The Energy of Motion

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What is Potential Energy

Potential Energy is the energy that is stored in an object

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Elastic Potential energy is the potential energy stored by stretching or compressing an elastic object

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Example #1: Stretching a spring

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Transfer of

Energy

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The law of conservation of energy

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Law of Conservation of Energy

The law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, although it can be changed from one form to another.

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Since energy cannot be destroyed or created therefore the different forms of energy can be transformed from one to another. This is called the transfer of energy.

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What is the Transfer of Energy

There are many forms of Energy

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Energy Transfer/Conversion is the process by which energy is relocated from one type to another

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Example: A rubber band is stretched which stores elastic potential energy. When it is released, the elastic potential energy is transferred to kinetic energy.

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Rollback Can

04

Applying theory & understanding how it works

A slightly different model from the one we are creating

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Materials

  • Rubber bands
  • 3D printed tube and cap
  • 10 cent coins (weights)
  • Tape

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Instructions

  • Secure the rubber band onto the 3D printed tube
  • Using the tape, connect the rubber band to the weight

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Instructions

  • Secure the rubber band on the lid of the can by stretching it out
  • Roll the tube with all the equipment inside
  • The stretched rubber band already stores elastic potential energy
  • However after rolling the tube, the rubber band will twist, resulting in more elastic potential energy being stored
  • Release and watch what happens

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Thanks!

For more information find us at

physicspathfinders.org

physicspathfinders@gmail.com

@physics_pathfinders