An InquiryBased Lab using Hookes Law and Conservation of Energy

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Bungee Jump
An Inquiry-Based Lab using Hookes Law and
Conservation of Energy
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Bungee Jump
Objective
Release an egg from a calculated height above a
lab table and have it bungee jump within 0-5 cm
of the table surface!
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Bungee Jump
Rationale Spice-up a lab on Hookes Law
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Bungee Jump
The Setup!
Provide your unborn chicken (egg) with an
eggciting experience! Allow the egg to bungee
jump such that it comes perilously close to the
ground!
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Bungee Jump
Students first determine the spring constant for
their spring aka bungee cord using traditional
lab equipment and method.
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Bungee Jump
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Bungee Jump
Students are then given an egg, two baggies for
their harness and some chicken food (BBs)
BBs are provided to vary the mass of the egg
package
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Bungee Jump
A review of the Law of Conservation of Energy
leads to a discussion of Elastic Potential Energy.
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Bungee Jump
PEg EPE mgh 1/2kx2
Since h and x represent the same distance,
students can then determine the distance the egg
package should fall (before stopping) after
release.
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Bungee Jump
If using a spring with a high k value, it is
necessary to subtract the force needed to
initially stretch the spring from the weight of
the egg package.
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Bungee Jump
Students bring their spring and egg package to
the front demo table and prepare their egg for
its bungee jump
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Bungee Jump
The goal is to have the egg package fall near to
the table surface
Scoring Within 0-5 cm 10 points 5-8 cm
8 points 8-10 cm 6
points 10-12 cm 4 points 12 or egg
hitting table 2 points
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Bungee Jump
Click to Play Movie
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Bungee Jump
Final Lab Grade 10 points for the practical egg
drop 10 points for traditional part -data -graph -
answers to lab questions -calculations for
stretch distance (x)