Modeling Potential Energy of the Gaussian Gun

Elliott, Leslie Atkins; Bolliou, André; Irving, Hanna; Jackson, Douglas N.

doi:10.1119/1.5131114

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…However, for the fundamental forces, only the magnetic interaction is measurable in standard laboratory infrastructure, as the electric, nuclear and gravitational effect variations happen in scales that are too big or too small requiring sophisticated or expensive setups. In the literature of Gauss rifles, magnetic potential wells are treated by analogy [11]. Other works focused their analysis on field and forces [2,6,7].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The term "mixed metaphor" is used here because, although this analogy can be useful to comprehend the phenomenon, one has to be careful not to over-interpret the sketch. This pictorial representation of the energy transformation process of the Gauss rifle has been put forward by our group previously [3] and a 3D printed analog has been presented by another group later on [11]. In the moment a Gauss rifle or pendulum experiment is performed, the most striking fact observed is the increase in kinetic energy of the projectile when compared to the trigger ball.…”

Section: The Gauss Pendulummentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The subtlety of the process is that the spacer ball positions the projectile ball further away from the magnet so that it loses kinetic energy E f in the process of escaping the potential well generated by the magnet. The difference ∆E = E 0 − E f represents the gain in kinetic energy of the projectile in the process [3,11]. Of course, we are not considering in this simple model the losses caused by inelasticity (which is related to the coefficient of restitution of each interface), recoil generated in soliton propagation in the assembly and other interaction phenomena.…”

Section: The Gauss Pendulummentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Gauss pendulum

et al. 2021

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Recently, the Gauss rifle has gained attention as an interesting problem for physics and engineering education. In this manuscript we propose and analyze a novel problem that, while being related to the Gauss rifle, is rather simpler: the Gauss pendulum, which yields more consistent results and allows further agreement between model, simulation and experimental data. The Gauss pendulum, unlike the rifle, does not involve rotational movement of balls and the difference between the initial and final energy state of the system can be easily accessed by measuring the final height of the swinging projected ball. An extensive assessment of a Gauss pendulum has been developed using free software and accessible laboratory equipment. Focusing on the validation of the magnetic potential well model to understand the gain in kinetic energy, it was possible to obtain a remarkable agreement between the experimental and theoretically simulated data.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Gauss Pendulummentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Gauss Pendulummentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Gauss pendulum

et al. 2021

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Why We Eat Calories: A Plurality Metaphor of Energy in Scientific Disciplines

Atkins

2024

Sci & Educ

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In the Next Generation Science Standards, energy is considered a “crosscutting concept” that bridges disciplinary boundaries and unites scientific disciplines. I examine how energy is represented in physics, biology, and chemistry contexts, using the reaction of molecular oxygen with sugar as an exemplar, and argue that disciplines disagree in how they represent the origin of energy that drives this process. In particular, while biology tends to locate energy as initially in the sugar molecule, chemistry locates the energy in molecular oxygen, and physics models energy as in the field between the molecules. That is to say, biology describes us as eating calories, chemistry as inhaling calories, and physics invents an abstract object (the field) as the container for energy. I then show how the conceptualizations made in each discipline stem from core disciplinary commitments, models, and concepts that structure what “counts” as an explanation. This conceptual plurality, then, is essential to disciplinary meaning. While such a pluralistic conceptualization appears to be contrary to scientific epistemology that prioritizes coherence and cognitive models that rely on unitary structures for transfer, I draw on recent research to argue that neither concern is fully founded. Finally, I suggest that building bridges between these contrasting conceptualizations may come later, in response to interdisciplinary questions and frameworks.

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Modeling Potential Energy of the Gaussian Gun

Elliott

Bolliou

Irving

et al. 2019

The Physics Teacher

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The Gaussian gun is an arrangement of magnets and ball bearings (pictured in Fig. 1) such that—when the leftmost ball is released—the rightmost ball is ejected at high speeds. The device has been described in several articles on energy education. The sudden appearance of kinetic energy offers a productive context for considering a range of challenging ideas: the often-counterintuitive relationship between force and potential energy, the escape velocity for attractive forces, why energy is required to break bonds, and why energy is released when bonds form. Beyond these ideas, it is also useful for motivating the representation of a potential well and bound states for both quantum mechanics and chemistry.

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Modeling Potential Energy of the Gaussian Gun

Cited by 3 publications

References 7 publications

The Gauss pendulum

The Gauss pendulum

Why We Eat Calories: A Plurality Metaphor of Energy in Scientific Disciplines

Modeling Potential Energy of the Gaussian Gun

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