Conservation of Mechanical Energy

Learning objectives

Use the prepared scene to investigate the following physical ideas:

• Mechanical energy
• Work and energy
• Dissipation

Available controls

The workspace lets you pause and play the scene, select its objects, edit the starting properties described below, reset the scene, and inspect configured live graph measurements.

1. Change ball mass or release height.
2. Press Play.
3. Compare the three energy traces.

Expected observations

• Potential energy becomes kinetic energy.
• Rolling and impacts dissipate some energy.
• Total mechanical energy is nearly constant before contact losses.

Model limitations

Energy values reflect the simulation model and sampled graph interval. Contact, rolling, and drag losses depend on the chosen properties.

Simulation output is educational and approximate. Verify important results with independent calculations or physical measurements.