In a lab experiment on energy and momentum conservation, we used a metal ball an

Question

In a lab experiment on energy and momentum conservation, we used a metal ball and collided it with a plastic chamber at the end of a hanging pendulum. The collison was inelastic. Everytime we "shot the ball" through the chamber to hit the pendulum, we recorded the angle. We also used a ruler to measure h2 and h3. h3 was the height form the middle of the chamber to the angle we got. h2 was the height of the table to the chamber.

Above is a photo of all the raw data and calculated data we collected.
Why doesn’t it matter what you choose as the zero of height when measuring h2 and h3? Apparatus # NameLab Partners - A. Raw data: angle readings: 1. -2._ 3.3.4.35. 5.36. 6.331 7.36 .3 .35 10.36 average angle reading: -3Sae 307m .103m .2g6 m kg kg h (using average angle reading): 092 3) mp (with ball inside) : Pendulum B. Analysis: Solv Kon 1 1er wbalt algebraic expression numerical value 0m/s VI : - m/s 2.o6 31o (00 PE2: 2. ."Sos-3.sg 942

Explanation / Answer

This is due to the fact that, our interest is in the change in gravitational potential energy and not in the potential energy.
Change in potential energy depends upon height difference, that is h3-h2.
since height difference, does not depend upon what you choose zero of height, it does not matter where you take zero height.

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