Physical Application
We can now apply the concepts
that have been covered earlier to further explain
how they come together to create what we see
happening on the trampoline. To start out, we must
explain that energy in any system can neither be
created nor destroyed, therefore, energy in a system
must be conserved. E = PE + KE + Q. Q being internal
forces that are most of the time negligible and
unaccounted for. In this case of a trampoline, we
must also include Hooke's law in for finding the
spring forces in the trampoline as we descend onto
it. We first start out by bouncing up from our
original equilibrium state and then transferring
energy throughout the system to achieve greater
heights. This increase in height is what allows the
trampoline to apply an equal force in the opposite
direction to bounce you back up from the height you
fell from. During the moments of movement or motion
when you're bouncing, this energy is explained
through Kinetic energy and take your given body mass
and the speed at which you are going. During your
highest and lowest points of your jumps, are the
points where we can calculate the potential energy.
At your highest point, all energy is transferred
into stored energy as gravitational potential energy
as all the work is being done by gravity attempting
to pull you downwards back to equilibrium status.
Energy then moves to Kinetic and back to Potential
but this time it is elastic potential energy, which
is potential energy following the rules of Hooke's
law to include a spring force in stored energy. That
stored energy is then released as kinetic energy
into motion pushing you back up to the given height.
The work in the system that allows you to bounce
higher and higher is done by you and your legs
pushing back on the trampoline to give an added
force to the spring force propelling you back up.