Impulse and Work (MBL) Pre-lab Assignment

Your name: _____________________

Please print this page, fill it in, and show it to your TF at the start of your lab session.

Part of this experiment involves impulse - an impulse is a change in momentum produced by applying a net force to an object for a particular time interval. The first simulation shows possible motions for an air-hockey puck that is subject to a net force for half a second.

Which of the motions shows correctly what an air hockey puck would do if it was initially moving in the x-direction, and was then briefly subjected to a net force in the y-direction?

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The second part of this experiment involves work, which has units of energy. Consider rolling a cart down an incline. The simulation below shows this situation. In this simulation, energy graphs are plotted as a function of time.

Two curves, showing different kinds on energy, are shown in the graph below the simulation. Identify each.

The red curve is the: gravitational potential energy kinetic energy
The green curve is the: gravitational potential energy kinetic energy

Briefly explain how you know which graph is which.



Assume there is no friction acting. If you added the two curves, what would you get?
a horizontal line a line that decreases as the object travels down the slope a line that increases as the object travels down the slope

If friction was acting on the cart, what would you get if you added the two curves?
a horizontal line a line that decreases as the object travels down the slope a line that increases as the object travels down the slope

Briefly justify your answer: