Name:____________________

Start:
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Click on the Energy Skate Park shortcut on the desktop

Explore the simulation with your partner and complete the following checklist:

Move the blue dots on the track and run the skater.

Try out different locations.

Try different skaters.

Try the different energy graphs.

Time to explore potential energy, kinetic energy, and conservation of energy.
Reset the simulation. Then make your screen look like the picture by
- clicking to open the bar graph
- dragging the graph closer to the
track.
- ask if you need help

Discuss the changes in the bar

graph as the skater moves on the

track

Add symbols

( S )

to complete the data table:

( increases, decreases, S for stays the same)

Skaters

Potential

Kinetic

movement

energy

energy

Total energy

( S ) ( S )

( S )

Down the hill

Up the hill

Discuss any patterns you see for the energy data table.

As an object moves down the track, the kinetic energy _________ and the
potential energy ____________. When the object moves up the track the kinetic
energy ________ and the potential energy _______.

Look at your data table and focus on the Total energy column. Write a
statement or two about the total energy of the object moving up and down the track.

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Instructor Check Here!!!

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Time to Hypothesize!
A hypothesis is an educated guess. A hypothesis is a possible explanation for a problem
using what you know and what you observe. A GOOD hypothesis follows a structure
that looks similar to this:

If _______{I do this}_______, then _______{this}________ will happen because

_______________________{explanation}_______________________________.

Problem:
In real life when we drop an object from a ramp it will eventually stop moving because of
friction. You experienced this when you released the car from the ramp during the
experiment. Where does the kinetic energy from the car go?

Write a GOOD hypothesis that addresses the question above:

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Instructor Check Here!!!

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Time to explore friction!

1. Reset the simulation.
a) Open the bar graph again
b) Click

c) Move the slider to change the friction

Discuss the changes in the bar graph as the skater moves up and down on the track.
Do not fill
out until

2. Use the symbols to fill in the data table.

( increases, decreases, S stays the same)

3b

Skaters

Potential energy

Kinetic energy

Total energy

________

movement

( S )

( S )

( S )

( S )

Down hill

Up the hill

Discuss any patterns you see in the data table.

3. Change the skater and repeat this part of the activity.
Add arrows the complete the following observations.

( S )

a) As an object moves down the track, the kinetic energy _________ and the
potential energy ____________. The total energy __________________.

b) After watching the bar graph while the object is moving, especially with lots
of friction, write a title for the last column. Use the symbols to fill in the last
column.

c) complete the observation statement:

As the skater moves with friction, the kinetic energy and potential energy both ___,
the thermal energy________ and the total energy ________.
Write a possible explanation for this.
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park .

Discuss what changed and what stayed the same when friction added to the skate

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Using what you learned from the simulation with the skater, was your hypothesis
correct? Identify why your hypothesis was wrong or right.
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Which situation, with friction or without friction, is more similar to your everyday
experience on a skateboard or bicycle? Write at least 2 sentences to explain your answer.
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Instructor Check Here!!!

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Make Your Own Track!

Example Track

Guidelines for track:

-

The starting ramp has to be taller

than any other hump, bump, or
loop

At least one raised part of track

(other than the start)

Skater must stay in contact with

the ramp at all times

Instructor Check Here!!!

Stamp Here

1) Place the skater at the top of the highest

point and click the Energy vs. Time button.
2) Record the potential energy at this point listed on the graph
in the potential energy at the highest point for lower and
the higher release points.
3) Place skater at a height higher than the highest point on the
track and record the potential energy using the Energy vs.
Time Graph. Release skater.

4) Place skater at a height higher than the highest point on the

track and record the potential energy. Release skater.

Skaters

Potential

Potential energy

Does the

Release point

energy at

at highest point

skater make

start

it across?

Lower

Y or N

Higher

Y or N

When the potential energy at the start was _______________ than the potential
energy at the highest point, the skater made it across the track. When the potential energy
at the start was _____________ than the potential energy at the highest point, the
skater did not make it across.

Instructor Check Here!!!

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Real Life Application

Why do roller coasters usually start with a wench that pulls the coaster up the track
at the beginning of the ride? Describe what happens to the energy using the terms
potential energy and kinetic energy in your explanation.

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Instructor Check Here!!!

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