Lab: Thermal Energy and Friction

Introduction
The mechanical energy of a mass is the sum of the kinetic energy that the mass has because of
its motion, and the potential energy it has because of its location. When friction acts on a mass,
the friction takes away mechanical energy. We can imagine that the energy is still there – in the
motion of the atoms of the environment and the mass itself. But this energy is no longer readily
available to do work. We can only detect this energy by a rise in temperature. That is why the
energy friction “steals” is often called thermal energy.
In this lab you will look at a simulated motion – a ball rolling on a parabolic track. You will
investigate how much thermal energy is removed by friction as the ball rolls on the track.