DISCUSSION:
Energy is neither created or destroyed. Machines may seem to make our lives easier but they do not reduce the amount of work you must do to complete the task. Machines simply allow you to apply a smaller force over a greater distance to make your effort less.

PURPOSE:
The purpose of this experiment is to compare the work out and work in of a simple machine, an inclined plane.

MATERIALS: ramp/board/track, car, ring stand with large clamp, force probe/spring balance

PROCEDURES:

1) Set up the ramp so the clamp is holding it on the side. The clamp should be near the end and you should be able to slide the ramp past the clamp so that the ramp still remains on the table. Try moving the ramp before deciding where to place the clamp. Once you have tested at least 3 different positions for the ramp with the clamp in one place, clamp the ramp at the very end.

2) Create a data table for recording, clamp position 1, 2, 3, trail 1,2,3, force in and out, distance in and out, work in and out, average values for all of these, and efficiency for each clamp position.

3) Measure and record the distance in and out and the force in and out 3 times with the clamp in position one at the the end of the ramp.

4) Move the ramp up (DON'T MOVE THE CLAMP UP AND DOWN!) and repeat step 3.

5) Move the ramp up again and repeat step 3.

ANALYSIS:

***make sure to show one sample 5-step calculation for all calculations

QUESTION 1: Why is work out always the same?

QUESTION 2: What is the GPE increase for the car in each trial? Why is it the same as the work out?

QUESTION 3: Why shouldn't work out be more than work in?

QUESTION 4: What is the relationship between force and distance?

QUESTION 5: What is the advantage of using a simple machine like an inclined plane?

STANDARD LAB REPORT REQUIRED!