The Bungee Jumper: Conservation of Energy
Obj: Determine the distance a bungee person falls based on the determined k of a spring
Materials:  spring, bungee person, meter stick, weights

Procedures and Analysis
1. Set up the apparatus as shown in the diagram to find the spring constant k of a spring.
2. Avoiding parallax, read and record the position of the spring with the 50 g mass hanger attached.
3. Hang a 50.0 g mass on the mass holder. Record the new position.
4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 for incremental masses of 50.0 g.
5. Plot F in Newtons as a function of x (meters).
Calculate the slope of the line (=spring constant k).
6. Determine the mass of your bungee person. Solve the equation for the distance (h) the bungee person will fall before being stopped by the spring.

mgΔh = ½kh² which simplifies to: mg = ½kh

Now, call over the physics instructor for the next step.

7. Attach the bungee person to the spring and support the person such that the spring is at the no-load (unstretched) position. Raise the bungee person to the appropriate height (h). Consider the body length of the bungee person.
8. Drop the bungee person. [NOTE: The physics instructor is the sole judge of distance from the table the bungee person falls on the spring.]

Grade: bungee person hits table (a fatality) = 1, within 8-10 cm of table = 3, within 4-7 cm = 4, less than 4 cm = 5

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