Energy Lab
This lab is about the concept of conservation of energy - the 'you-can't-get-something-for-nothing' principle. It works on an iPad as well your laptop. Run the lab and get a feel for how it works, then open a new word document or google doc.
Experiment 1 - Energy transfer between PE and KE
The energy associated with height is gravitational potential energy (PE). It is due to work being done against gravity in order to raise an object up. The energy associated with motion is kinetic energy (KE) and is a measure of the work required to stop a moving object. Start the skateboard moving, notice how the energy changes from PE to KE and back. Whatever height he starts at will be the height that he goes up on the other side.
Experiment 2 - Energy losses due to Friction
Use the Friction lab to see how the energy of the skater slowly changes to heat due to friction and is lost. The skateboarder will no longer be able to convert ALL of the PE to KE and back to PE. Each time, a little bit is lost to heat (thermal). Set the friction to medium and record the heights at the start and on the other side. Repeat for a range of heights. Is there a pattern? What happens if the friction is increased?
Experiment 3 - Using the W shaped track
Set the skateboarder to run with no fiction and see what happens when he runs through the W shaped track. Start him from different heights. Increase friction bit by bit and see what happens to his run.
The energy associated with height is gravitational potential energy (PE). It is due to work being done against gravity in order to raise an object up. The energy associated with motion is kinetic energy (KE) and is a measure of the work required to stop a moving object. Start the skateboard moving, notice how the energy changes from PE to KE and back. Whatever height he starts at will be the height that he goes up on the other side.
Experiment 2 - Energy losses due to Friction
Use the Friction lab to see how the energy of the skater slowly changes to heat due to friction and is lost. The skateboarder will no longer be able to convert ALL of the PE to KE and back to PE. Each time, a little bit is lost to heat (thermal). Set the friction to medium and record the heights at the start and on the other side. Repeat for a range of heights. Is there a pattern? What happens if the friction is increased?
Experiment 3 - Using the W shaped track
Set the skateboarder to run with no fiction and see what happens when he runs through the W shaped track. Start him from different heights. Increase friction bit by bit and see what happens to his run.