Simulations at http://phet.colorado.

edu/

PART A: The Skate Basic Park – Intro to Energy Potential and Kinetic PhET Lab

Procedure: google "skate park basics phet" and click on the first link.
Turn on the Bar Graph, Pie Chart, and Speed options.

1. Take some time and play with the skater. Write down five observations you notice in
relation to the skater and energy.

 _______________________________________________________________________________

 _______________________________________________________________________________

 _______________________________________________________________________________

 _______________________________________________________________________________

 _______________________________________________________________________________
2. How does increasing skater's mass change the skater’s…
Kinetic Energy? ___________________Potential Energy? __________________Total Energy? _________________

3. How does the skater’s kinetic energy change as he moves down the ramp? _______________________________________

4. How does the skater’s kinetic energy change as he moves up the ramp? _________________________________________

5. How does the skater’s potential energy change as he moves down the ramp? _____________________________________

6. How does the skater’s potential energy change as he moves up the ramp? ________________________________________

7. How does the skater’s total energy change as he moves down the ramp? _________________________________________

8. How does the skater’s total energy change as he moves up the ramp? __________________________________________

9. Describe the skater’s kinetic energy at the bottom of the ramp. ____________________________________

10. Describe the skater’s potential energy at the bottom of the ramp. ________________________________

11. What happens when the skater is dropped onto the ramp from above the ramp? ___________________________________

Go to the friction tab. Take some time and play with the skater. Turn on the Bar Graph, Pie Chart, Friction, and Speed
options.

12. How is the skater’s movement different with friction compared to without friction? ________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

13. What does the potential and kinetic energy get converted into? Why do you think that is? ___________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

PART B: Conclusion Questions: (circle the correct answers)

1. At the highest point kinetic energy is zero / maximum while the potential energy is zero / maximum.
2. At the lowest point kinetic energy is zero / maximum while potential energy is zero / maximum.
3. Mass affects / does not affect the amount of energy.
4. As an object falls in gravity, kinetic energy increases / decreases / remains the same.
 Simulations at http://phet.colorado.edu/

5. As an object falls in gravity, potential energy increases / decreases / remains the same.
6. As an object falls in gravity, total energy increases / decreases / remains the same.
7. An object travelling faster and faster has a kinetic energy that increases / decreases / remains the same.
8. An object travelling faster and faster has a potential energy that increases / decreases / remains the same.
9. As an object speeds up, the total energy increases / decreases / remains the same.
10. As an object slows down, the total energy increases / decreases / remains the same.

PART C: The Skate Park – Intro to Energy and Work PhET Lab

1. Create the skate paths as shown. If the skater starts on the left side, will he have
enough energy to make it all the way to the right side? _________ Why? / Why not?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

A E If the skater starts on the left on the path here, match the letter here with
C the following conditions:
2. Maximum kinetic energy __________
D 3. Maximum potential energy _________
4. Two locations where the skater has about the same speed_______
B

5. Design your own skate track. BE CREATIVE. Draw your track below and answer the following questions.

If the skater starts on the left side, will he have enough energy to make it all the way to the right side? _________ Why? / Why
not? __________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

PART D: Conclusion Questions: use g = 9.8 m/s2

1. How much potential energy does the 60. kg skater have before she starts her ride, 12 m above the ground?

2. How much kinetic energy does a 60.0 kg skater have traveling with a velocity of 4 m/s?

3. How high must a 2.0 kg basketball be thrown so it has a potential energy of 160 J?