The Relationship Between Potential and Kinetic Energy
Driving or Multi-dimensional Question:
How can the speed and weight of an object affect an amount of kinetic energy? What type of energy is created when a brick falls from a wall? Explain how potential energy can be changed into kinetic energy.
Unit Summary:
Students will be participating in multiple hands-on activities developing and using models created with materials such as marbles, dominoes, chalk and balloons. Students will be discovering the relationship between potential energy and kinetic energy. They will also watch videos and play interactive games to help them reach an understanding of how energy is transferred from one form to another. Students will be able to use this understanding to answer the formative assessment question about sledding with a sibling and parent.
Hook Event:
Culminating Event:
Standards
Science Standards:
4.PS3.2 Observe and explain the relationship between potential energy and kinetic energy.
4.ETS2.3 Determine the effectiveness of multiple solutions to a design problem given the criteria and the constraints.
Math Standards:
ELA and Other Standards:
Daily Activities
For more information on this lesson please see the Lesson Resources below
Activities | Description | Resources and Materials |
---|---|---|
Activity One |
Hook: Potential and Kinetic Energy Prediction Sheet | Cars and Cups Video: Seesaw Acrobats Video: Bowling Ball Pendulum Video: Materials: |
Activity Two | Investigation: | Dominoes Video: youtube.com/watch?v=ARM42-eorzE Materials:
|
Activity Three | Game Time: | Roller Coaster Game: unctv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/hew06.sci.phys.maf.rollercoaster/energy-in-a-roller-coaster-ride/#.WzUuQqdKjIU Millionaire Game: quia.com/rr/37397.html |
Activity Four | Independent Study: | Currents of Change: currentsofchange.net/tennessee-history-videos/ Rivers to Power Video: fwee.org/northwest-hydropower/rivers-to-power/ |
Activity Five | Field Trip: | Contact Local Dam: tva.com/Energy/Our-Power-System/Hydroelectric |
Technology Integration:
Business Partner | Contribution to Learning Experience | Contact Information |
---|---|---|
Cheatham Lake Resource Manager’s Office | Students will get to see firsthand the potential energy of water transforming into kinetic energy. | 615-792-5697 |
Find a Dam Near You | Students will get to see firsthand the potential energy of water transforming into kinetic energy. | tva.com/Energy/Our-Power-System/Hydroelectric |
Capstone Presentation:
A. You and your younger sibling wake up one winter morning and discover that the outside is covered in a blanket of white powdery snow. You quickly get your warm snow clothes on and grab your sled. You and your sibling decide to race down the hill in your backyard. However, when you say, “Go!” your sibling’s sled doesn’t move. How can you explain the relationship between potential and kinetic energy to your sibling to help him/her understand why the sled won’t move?
B. Your dad comes outside to join the sledding fun. You race your dad, but he wins every time. Why does your dad beat you to the bottom of the hill even though you both have the same sled? Can you and your sibling use your knowledge of potential and kinetic energy to figure out a way to win the race against your dad?