PA U2C2A6

Lucas launches a tightly bound bean bag block along

a table top using a rubber band launcher.

1. Task: Why does the bean bag block speed up as Lucas lets go of the rubber band?

2.2. Analyze and explain.Analyze and explain.

• Identify the interacting objects and their type of interaction.

• Draw an energy diagram showing the energy transfers and changes.

Lucas launches a tightly bound bean bag block along a table top using a rubber band launcher.

Analysis:There is an elastic interaction between the rubber band and the beanbag block.

The beanbag block speeds up because there is an elastic interaction between the rubber band and the bean bag block. The rubber band transfers mechanical energy to the bean bag block. The beanbag block increases in motion energy, and the rubber band decreases in stored elastic energy. That is why the beanbag speeds up.

Task: Why does the beanbag block slow down after leaving contact with the rubber band? Analyze and explain.

Analysis

There is a friction interaction between the beanbag block and the table & the beanbag block .

thermal

The beanbag block slows down after leaving contact with the rubber band because there is a friction interaction between the bean bag and the bean bag and the table. The bean bag transfers mechanical energy to the beanbag block & the table. The beanbag block and the table warm up, increasing their thermal energy, and the beanbag block slows down, decreasing in motion energy. As a result, the bean bag slows down.

thermal