Work, Energy and Pressure

Intro Physics took another look at pressure today by investigating how pressure in a fluid changes with depth. We used gas pressure sensors to assess the pressure at different positions in a column of water and saw that in increased linearly as the depth grew larger. There were three different samples of water to test and you found a different slope for each sample. This was due to the different densities of of the water samples and we'll go into that in more depth on Monday. Also on Monday, try to have your pressure and hydraulics problems completed, but we'll take 5 minutes or so on Monday if you need to tidy up loose ends. We'll also discuss our lab and use it to highlight our discussion of fluid pressure and how it varies with depth or height.

Physics D and F spent time discussing kinetic energy and the work-kinetic energy theorem. We defined kinetic energy, examined the formula and then discussed how work done on an object affected the kinetic energy of an object. Positive work would increase velocity, so kinetic energy would rise. Negative work would decrease velocity, so kinetic energy would fall. We'll review this on Monday and then turn out attention to potential energy.

Honors Physics had the potential energy conversation today, after reviewing their work on the work-kinetic energy theorem. We looked at gravitational potential energy and elastic potential energy, which are lumped with kinetic energy as mechanical energy. Both are energy waiting to do work and involve the position of an object in respect to something. For gravitational potential energy, it is position relative to a defined point in Earth's gravitational field and for elastic potential energy, it is the relaxed length of the elastic material. We looked at the formulas for each energy type and we'll review our homework problems with these energy types on Monday before turning attention to conservation of energy.