Lesson 1: What Is Energy?
Day 2
Activity 4: Kinetic and Potential Energy
Materials: ScienceWiz Energy box, large marble (kit), ruler, small marbles (kit), thick book
Objects have two kinds of energy: kinetic and potential. Potential energy is the energy an object has because of its position. Potential energy is stored energy that is waiting to be used. Kinetic energy is the energy of a moving object. Watch the following video to learn more.
Web Link
What's the Difference Between Potential and Kinetic Energy?
This link was verified on 10/23/2023.
Next, put a ruler on top of a book, and hold a marble at the top of the ruler. The marble has potential energy at the top of the ruler. The higher you hold the marble on the ruler, the more potential energy the marble has. Now let the marble go. When the marble starts moving, the potential energy becomes kinetic energy. Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. Any moving object has kinetic energy.
Which has more potential energy: a skier at the top of the mountain or one that is half-way down? Explain.
Does a rollercoaster going down a hill have kinetic or potential energy? Explain.
Conduct the experiments described on pages 10 and 11 of the book from your ScienceWiz Energy box.
Which has more potential energy: a skier at the top of the mountain or one that is half-way down? Explain.
Does a rollercoaster going down a hill have kinetic or potential energy? Explain.
Conduct the experiments described on pages 10 and 11 of the book from your ScienceWiz Energy box.
Answer Key
A skier at the top of the mountain has more potential energy. The roller coaster has both kinetic and potential energy. The movement downhill is kinetic energy. The position on the hill (above ground level) is potential energy. As the kinetic energy increases as the roller coaster goes down the hill the potential energy will decrease.
Activity 5: Mechanical Energy
Materials: colored pencils or markers
Kinetic and potential energy are both forms of mechanical energy. An object has mechanical energy when it has either potential energy or kinetic energy. Often it has both at the same time! Think of the marble in Activity 4. While the marble was rolling down the ramp, it was also in the air. An object that is moving while in the air has both kinetic and potential energy at the same time. As the marble rolled and got closer to the ground, it gained kinetic energy but lost potential energy.
Your child will select one of the options provided. In Option 1, he will illustrate potential and kinetic energy. In Option 2, he will think of ways to demonstrate both types of energy
Option 1: Illustrating Mechanical Energy
On the "Illustrating Mechanical Energy" page, draw a picture to represent potential energy and one to represent kinetic energy. Your examples should not include ideas or pictures from the lesson or the book.
Student Activity Page
If Your child selects Option 1, encourage him to share his pictures of mechanical and potential energy. His images should be different than those found in the book.
Option 2: Demonstrating Mechanical Energy
Think of ways to demonstrate potential and kinetic energy. Record your ideas on the "Demonstrating Mechanical Energy" page. Your examples should not include ideas or pictures from the lesson or the book. Demonstrate both types of energy to family members.
Student Activity Page
If your child selects Option 2, encourage him to demonstrate both types of mechanical energy. His ideas should not be the same as those found in the book.
Activity 6: Energy in Our Lives
Materials: scissors
Review the different forms of energy and brainstorm a list of ways that energy impacts your life. Cut out your ideas and organize the ways you are impacted by energy into categories. A chart has been provided.
Student Activity Page
Student Activity Page
Student Activity Page
Review your child's list of ways that energy plays a role in his daily life. Check to see that he sorted each idea in the appropriate category of energy.