Potential Energy
Lesson 4
Energy an object has, giving it the ability to move. (stored)
POTENTIAL ENERGY
A start to learning the difference between Kinetic and Potential Energy. You can also see the equation that you would use to find Potential Energy.
FOR YOUR NOTEBOOK
Lesson 4: Potential Energy
Vocabulary and Notes:
Mass - The amount of matter in an object, measured in kilograms (kg)
Gravity - An object's directional speed, measured in directional distance/time (m/s²)
Height - Vertical distance from the ground, measured in meters (m)
Stored - kept for future use
PE - Potential Energy (Stored Energy)
A. Gravitational Potential Energy Equation
1. PE = mass x gravity x height
2. In the equation, Gravity is a value of acceleration on a given planet. On Earth it's 9.8m/s²
3. Example:
LAB *MARBLE ROLLER COASTER*
IN YOUR NOTEBOOK, ALWAYS INCLUDE THE DATE, THE LESSON TITLE, AND DO THE WARM-UP TASK ASSOCIATED TO THAT DATE. FOR LABS, IF NO SHEET IS PROVIDED, YOU MUST RECORD STEP TITLES AND YOUR ANSWERS IN YOUR SCIENCE NOTEBOOK
Purpose: For students to understand what potential energy is and what it looks like.
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Material:
Foam pipe insulation (At least 6 feet in length)
At least one glass marble (Or other small heavy ball that will roll easily through the foam insulation)
Masking tape
Utility knife
Table or chair
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Procedure:
Step One: Curl one end of a piece of pipe insulation into a loop, roughly 1 foot in diameter.
Step Two: Use masking tape to hold the loop in place and tape it to the floor on both sides of the loop. Make sure tape is not blocking the inside of the channel. (it's okay to have tape on the inside, just make sure it is pressed flat against the foam and will not block the marble)
Step Three: Tape the free end of the pipe insulation to a table or chair, forming a large hill leading down to the loop.
Step Four: Place your marble a few inches from the bottom of the hill and release it. (If it does not go all the way through the loop then move your marble a few inches up the track and release it again. Keep repeating this process until the marble goes the whole way through the loop.)