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Mousetrap and Ping Pong Balls

Authors: Walt Peck
Lab Manual: PDF Download
Kit: Reserve

Abstract: Using spring balances, students find force vs. elongation data for standard mousetraps and calculate elastic potential energy. Students then shoot ping pong balls as high as possible using the mousetraps. They calculate the potential energy gained by the ping pong balls against gravity and compare this number to the original elastic potential energy

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