Energy Skate Park: Basics

Topics

• Energy
• Conservation of Energy
• Kinetic Energy
• Potential Energy
• Friction

Description

Learn about conservation of energy with a skater gal! Explore different tracks and view the kinetic energy, potential energy and friction as she moves. Build your own tracks, ramps, and jumps for the skater.

Sample Learning Goals

• Explain the Conservation of Mechanical Energy concept using kinetic energy (KE) and gravitational potential energy (PE).
• Describe how the Energy Bar and Pie Charts relate to position and speed.
• Explain how changing the Skater Mass affects energy.
• Explain how changing the Track Friction affects energy.
• Predict position or estimate speed from Energy Bar and Pie Charts.
• Calculate speed or height at one position from information about a different position.
• Calculate KE and PE at one position from information about a different position.
• Design a skate park using the concepts of mechanical energy and energy conservation.