Short Answer
The experiment aimed to investigate how mass and speed affect kinetic energy, demonstrating that increasing mass and speed results in greater energy. Data showed that higher mass led to greater heights in a bean bag test, with suggestions for improvements including reducing friction and using better recording technology for more accurate results.
Step 1: Understanding the Experiment
The aim of this experiment was to explore how both mass and speed affect kinetic energy (KE). This knowledge is crucial in real-life applications, such as determining how to make an object reach higher distances. The experiment involved two tests: one with varying mass by adding water to a bean bag, and another by changing the drop height while keeping mass constant.
Step 2: Collecting and Analyzing Data
During the experiment, data was collected based on different mass and speed values. The bean bag was tested with four mass values: 0.125 kg, 0.250 kg, 0.375 kg, and 0.500 kg. The results showed that as mass increased, the height attained by the bean bag also increased consistently. Additionally, varying the drop height revealed that the bean bag sometimes exceeded the drop point, leading to varying results based on speed.
Step 3: Drawing Conclusions and Improvements
The data collected confirmed the initial hypothesis that higher mass and speed lead to greater kinetic energy. To enhance the experiment, improvements such as using smoother materials to minimize friction and employing better recording technology like cameras for accuracy were suggested. These enhancements could yield more precise results in further investigations of kinetic energy.