In this laboratory experiment, we created a system that exchangedmechanical energy between spring potential energy, kinetic energy, andgravitational potential energy. After mathematically calculating and graphing thesum of these forms of energy, as they exchanged joules of energy over time, we saw
that the total mechanical energy remained constant. In our “closed” system, a car
attached to a spring slowly bounced up and down a ramp. A sonic ranger measured
the car’s position.