Week 5 Blog

 

1. This week in lab we started out with the pendulum simulator that we have on ICON and answered the question of "Why does a swing stop swinging?" After completing this simulator I found that friction and air resistance were huge factors when thinking about this question. Over time, the combined effect of these energy losses reduces the swing’s kinetic energy, causing the amplitude of the swing to decrease until it eventually comes to a stop. Without an external force, like a person pushing the swing, there’s no way to add more energy to counteract these losses, and the swing ceases to move. After we completed this question we went on to the experiment of modeling a child's fall using an egg and various types of substances as cushion. With this we used the same setup for both the 1m and 2m drop. Using tire on the bottom as a bouncy substance, we thought this would be a good idea for a base. Next we went in with sand as a way to fill some of the gaps between the gapes within the rubbing. Finally we topped it off with a loose layer of hay on top of it all to ensure a cushion top to the mix. Within all of our trials that we did for both heights, we found, as seen in the videos, that our mixture was a perfect mix as our egg never broke. Even when the egg bounced out of the bowl, we found that most of the force was take by the bowl mixture. 

2. On playground slides and swings, motion is clearly observed and can be measured in terms of distance, time, speed, and velocity. For instance, when children go down a slide, their motion starts from rest (at the top) and accelerates due to gravity. On a swing, the periodic back-and-forth motion involves oscillation, where the highest points correspond to the lowest speed (rest) and the midpoint corresponds to maximum speed. The motion of children on slides and swings is influenced by forces like gravity and friction. On a slide, the force of gravity pulls a child downward, while friction between the child and the surface resists this motion, affecting how fast they go down. On swings, gravity and tension in the chains create the pendulum-like motion. Friction in the air and at the swing’s pivot point can slow down the swing’s motion over time. Swings function as pendulums, demonstrating potential and kinetic energy transformations. When a child reaches the highest point of the swing, potential energy is at its maximum, while kinetic energy is minimal. As they swing downward, potential energy decreases and kinetic energy increases. This cyclical exchange of energy continues, though the total energy reduces slightly due to air resistance and friction.Playground equipment provides tangible examples of how forces like gravity, friction, and tension shape motion, while energy transfers from potential to kinetic energy in real-world settings like swings and slides.