In this lab, we had to choose a partner and do an experiment with gravitational potential energy and elastic potential energy. With a toilet tube and a rubber band, we had to launch straws from the floor and see how high it can go. I learned a lot about gravitational potential energy and its relationship with elastic potential energy. With these two forms of energy, there are similarities and differences. First of all, these two forms are something different in the lab. The EPE is the stretch that you took. My partner and I have done three different stretches. There were different outcomes for each one. In conclusion, we have found out that the more stretch that you have, the more GPE you will have. Our data graph has showed us that. For example, if you pull 3 cm, we got about 2.20 m. But if you pull 4 cm, you will get a higher height.
This lab was a fun way to learn about the similarities and differences about GPE and EPE. There could have been some way to enhance the lab. One way could have been that there could have been better rockets. If you had a bigger or better rocket, you could have had more accurate data. I also think that there were some possible errors. One of them could have been that people forgot to convert one unit of measure to another and that caused their data to not be that accurate. But in the end, the lab was fun.
