Direct Measurement Video Library for Energy

Videos shown here contain grids, rulers, frame counters and other overlays that allow students to make measurements directly from the videos. Students can use this data to answer questions and solve problems. For each video, sample questions are shown, and in some cases, sample lesson plan ideas.

To analyze a video frame-by-frame, you will want to download the video file to your computer and open it using QuickTime. Clicking on the links shown here will allow you to view the video in your browser, but you may not be able to view the video frame-by-frame.

To download the video, alt-click on the link and select:

"save linked file as..." (Firefox)

"download liked file as..." (Safari)

"save link as..." (Chrome)

Dry Ice Puck Slides on a Circular Hoop

This clip shows a small puck made of dry ice sliding along a circular hoop. The disk slides along the surface of the hoop, but loses contact with the surface as it speeds up.

Download the QuickTime file: Direct Measurement Video of a dry ice puck sliding on a circular hoop (Quicktime Video 9.6MB Mar26 13) here.

Sample question: At what angle should the puck leave the surface if it is frictionless? At what horizontal location would a frictionless puck cross the ruler at the bottom of the screen?

Gravity-Powered Clock

This clip shows a time-lapse video of a "grandfather clock". The video shows the rate at which the suspended weights move downward over several days of operation. Note that students can make reasonably precise measurements from this YouTube video without needing the QuickTime version.

Sample question: What is the power used by the clock?

Cart Rolls Down a Ramp and Collides with Spring

Screen shot from a video of a cart rolling down a ramp into spring (Quicktime Video 2.9MB Jul7 12)

This clip shows a low friction cart rolling down a ramp and colliding with a spring at the bottom of the ramp. The video is filmed with two separate cameras, so you can see how far the spring is compressed when the cart reaches the low-point of its motion.

Download the QuickTime file: video of a cart rolling down a ramp into spring (Quicktime Video 2.9MB Jul7 12) here.

Sample question: What is the force constant for the spring?

Roller Coaster 1

This clip shows roller coaster recorded using a high-resolution high-speed camera. The roller coaster has just rolled down a hill 60 meters high.

Download the QuickTime file: Video of roller coaster 1 (Quicktime Video 11.2MB Jul23 12) here.

Sample question: What is the velocity of the roller coaster?

Sample question: Was mechanical energy conserved?

Sample activity: Introduction to Direct Measurement Video: Measure the Velocity of a Roller Coaster

Ballistic Pendulum

Screen shot from a Video of M&M candy ballistic pendulum (Quicktime Video 1.3MB Jul7 12)

This clip shows a M&M candy fired from a pneumatic cannon into a cup that is free to swing as a pendulum.

Download the QuickTime file: Video of M&M candy ballistic pendulum (Quicktime Video 1.3MB Jul7 12) here.

Sample question: Determine the velocity of the bullet as it leaves the pneumatic cannon.

Sample activity: Analyzing a Direct Measurement Video of a Ballistic Pendulum

Trampoline jumping

screen shot of video of person jumping on a trampoline

Screen shot from a video of person jumping on a trampoline (Quicktime Video 7.7MB Jul9 12)

This clip shows a person jumping on a trampoline.

Download the QuickTime file: video of person jumping on a trampoline (Quicktime Video 7.7MB Jul9 12) here.

Sample question: Determine the ratio of elastic potential energy when the jumper is at the low point to the gravitational potential energy when she is at the high point. Also, explain why you do not need to know the mass of the jumper to answer this question.

Sample activity: Direct Measurement Video of a Girl on a Trampoline