Rubber Band Cart Launcher

BIG QUESTION:
-How are energy and velocity related?



Two weeks ago we found out the relationship between mass, height, and gravity, to derive an equation using them, and find different way of finding potential energy in order to find velocity.  We continued to use  elastic potential energy in our lab while we tried to find the velocity of the red cart. We found this by launching the cart through a photo gate sensor and by doing a series of  trials,  for the most accurate data. We used a program called Graphical Analysis to create a graph that best represented our data.
From this lab I learned that velocity and energy are directly proportional, which means if you increase velocity you also increase the energy. I also learned that energy is conserved throughout the system which means it stays the same. The energy is just transferred from elastic potential energy to kinetic energy. In this lab we derived the equation K=1/2(m)(v)^2. which helps describes how energy and velocity are directly proportional.

Real Life Connection:
     A connection I can make to the real world would be a sling shot. When using a sling shot you are pulling back on an object with a rubber band( Elastic potential energy) and the farther you pull it back the more energy it gains. Then when you release the object the energy from the rubber band is transferring into velocity but not losing any energy. Kinetic energy is just replacing the elastic potential energy.