A student is comparing the results of trial 1 to trial 2 (in which the same cart

Question

A student is comparing the results of trial 1 to trial 2 (in which the same cart is used with different angles of inclination) and makes the following statement: "The work is greater for the steeper slope because the cart travels a greater distance in that case, and gravity is still pulling it down. The same force times the greater distance means more work." a. Do your results agree with the results the student is describing? b. Do you agree with the reasoning used by the student in interpreting his results? If so, explain why you agree. If not, identify the error (or errors) in the students reasoning. A student is making a prediction regarding the results of 2 to trial 3 (in which different carts are used with the same angle of inclination) and makes the following statement: "The final speed of the short cart will be less than that of the long cart because the short cart has less mass and therefore less gravitational force acting on it. So the short cart will have less acceleration, and therefore go more slowly at the bottom of the incline." a. Do your data support this students prediction? If not, describe the way in which your results differ from this prediction. b. The students reasoning is incorrect. Explain why, and give a correct explanation for your results. c. Compare this students prediction to your prediction (on page 4 of the lab). Is your prediction similar? If your prediction similar? If your prediction was incorrect, describe the way in which your reasoning was incorrect. What reasoning did you use to predict the outcome, and how is that reasoning different now that you are interpreting the experimental results?

Explanation / Answer

Here the work is same in both the cases (if there is no friction) which is the resultant of energy conservation.

From work-energy theorem, the work done is equal to the change in kinetic energy which is again equal to change in potential energy. The change in potential energy depends on the initial height of the object but not on the angle of inclination. So the student assumption is wrong.

I do not agree with students reasoning.

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