Energy for Life
Project: Get Moving!
How does potential energy convert to kinetic energy?
Teacher Note
This is a formative assessment activity. Students should submit their reports at least twice—once when they have designed their procedure and once when they have conducted the investigation. This activity will give students hands-on experience with an energy conversion. They will then need to dig into it further to see how changing potential to kinetic energy is useful in nature. Have students perform this activity in pairs or small groups, as materials may be limited.
In nature there are energyglossary term (opens in a new window) conversions happening all the time. One of the easiest to see is the change from potential to kinetic energy. In this activity, you will design an experiment of how to change one form into the other and then apply it to the living world.
Use the Internet to research the differences between potential and kinetic energy. Design an experiment that can be used to show how one form of energy is converted into another. Complete an outline of your procedure and a materials list. Submit it to your teacher. Once it is approved, conduct the experiment and record your observations. Record your results graphically and attach your graph to your report. Provide an analysis of your results.
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<div tinymce="true" use-dimensions="false">Objective: Describe what you are trying to find out.<br></div>Objective: Describe what you are trying to find out.Press Space or enter key to Enter Text
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<div tinymce="true" use-dimensions="false">Materials: Provide a detailed list of the materials you will need.<br></div>Materials: Provide a detailed list of the materials you will need.Press Space or enter key to Enter Text
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<div tinymce="true" use-dimensions="false">Safety Precautions: Provide a description of the safety precautions you will take.<br></div>Safety Precautions: Provide a description of the safety precautions you will take.Press Space or enter key to Enter Text
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<div tinymce="true" use-dimensions="false">Procedure: Provide a detailed description of the procedure you will use. Be sure to describe the data you intend to collect and the procedure for determining how you knew one form of energy changed into another.<br></div>Procedure: Provide a detailed description of the procedure you will use. Be sure to describe the data you intend to collect and the procedure for determining how you knew one form of energy changed into another.Press Space or enter key to Enter Text
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<div tinymce="true" use-dimensions="false">Results: Provide your data. Attach a graph and data table. Be sure to calculate any averages or other statistics that may be useful in your conclusions.<br></div>Results: Provide your data. Attach a graph and data table. Be sure to calculate any averages or other statistics that may be useful in your conclusions.Press Space or enter key to Enter Text
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<div tinymce="true" use-dimensions="false">Analysis and Conclusion: Provide an analysis of your results and any conclusions you have reached regarding how this change in energy happens in nature. Be sure to include several examples.<br></div>Analysis and Conclusion: Provide an analysis of your results and any conclusions you have reached regarding how this change in energy happens in nature. Be sure to include several examples.Press Space or enter key to Enter Text
