Energy is conserved in spring-like poppers

Abstract

This experiment investigates energy conservation in spring-like popper toys. A popper was compressed and released to obtain its maximum height, its velocity right after hitting the maximum height, and its velocity upon release for five trials. The kinetic energy equation and the potential energy equation were evaluated with the obtained values, where the average of the yielded kinetic energy and potential energy values, 0.068 94 J and 0.079 22 J, respectively, were compared and found to be approximately equal. The elastic potential energy stored in the popper before launch was 0.257 J, further supporting the idea that energy is conserved. A paired t-test comparing the average kinetic energy at launch and the average gravitational potential energy at maximum height for a popper for five trials yielded p = 0.424, revealing no statistically significant difference between the kinetic energy at launch and the potential energy at the popper’s highest point. This means that the kinetic energy at launch and the potential energy at maximum height are close enough to be comparable, further supporting the idea that energy is conserved.