Rubber Band Car Launcher Lab

The purpose of this lab was to discover the relationship between velocity, mass and energy. In our experiment we used an air track, red launcher "cart" and a rubber band. In order to introduce potential energy into the experiment, we had to pull the cart towards us (towards rubber band), and then release the cart which would then travel in a forward motion.

Important Info and Lab Summary: As the cart moved away from the rubber band, we realized that kinetic energy was being transferred due to the fact that the cart was in motion. It became clear that as we stored more energy in the rubber band, more speed/velocity was the product. In conclusion, we figured out that energy and velocity contain a direct relationship. The more energy stored in the rubber band, the further and faster the cart will move when that energy is released. The proof to our consensus was in the data we took from launching the cart from 1-5 cm of the stretched rubber band.

Key Data:
- K = kinetic energy (energy in motion)
- K=1/2 mass X v^2
-Ug = gravitational potential energy (effect of gravity on downward pull of object when lifted at a certain height
- mg = mass X acceleration due to gravitational pull
- h = height of lift
- Ug = mgh

Real World Connection: A fun toy for the upcoming car-obssessors, when winding back the Hot Wheels, the spring inside becomes fully loaded. This allows the car to accelerate (energy transfers to kinetic) and charge ahead without having to be pushed.