Energy Skate Park Basics: Potential Energy
Did you know?
Potential energy is stored energy that can be used for motion.

Investigation Question
What factors affect the amount of potential energy an object has?

Prediction (answer the Investigation Question):


Procedure
Part I
1. Select Intro activity.
2. Check the Pie Chart, Bar Graph, and Grid checkboxes.
3. Place the skater at the top of the track at 6 meters.
4. Watch as the potential energy changes as the skater moves from 6 meters to 0
meters and back to 6 meters.
5. Make observations.
Observations (What do you notice about potential energy when the skater moves on the track?) minimum 3 observations
1.
2.
3.
Position of
Skater on
Grid High Potential Medium High Potential Medium Low Potential Low Potential
6
4
2
0

Part II
1. Reset the simulation.
2. Place the skater at the top of the track at the 6 meters.
3. Slide the mass of the skater to small and make observations.
4. Slide the mass of the skater to large and make observations.

Observations (What do you notice about the potential energy when the mass of the skater changes?) minimum 3 observations
1.

2.

3.

Mass of Skater More Available
Potential
Mediumly
Available Potential
Less Available Potential
Small

Medium

Large

Conclusion
1. When would the skater have the most potential energy?

Energy Skate Park Basics:
Kinetic Energy

Did you know?
Kinetic energy is the energy of motion.

Investigation Question
What factors affect the amount of kinetic energy an object has?

Prediction

Procedure
Part I
1. Select Intro.
2. Check the Pie Chart, Bar Graph, and Grid checkboxes.
3. Place the skater at the top of the track at 6 meters.
4. Watch as the kinetic energy changes as the skater moves from 6 meters to 0
meters and back to 6 meters.
5. Make observations of the position and kinetic energy changes.

Observations (What do you notice about the kinetic energy when the position of the skater changes?) minimum 3 observations
1.

2.

3.

Position of
Skater on
Grid High Kinetic Medium High Kinetic Medium Low Kinetic Low Kinetic
6
4
2
0

Part II
1. Reset the simulation.
2. Check the Pie Chart, Bar Graph, Grid and Speed checkboxes.
3. Place the skater at the top of the track at the 6 meters.
4. Watch as the speed changes as the skater moves from 6 meters to 0 meters and
back to 6 meters.
5. You can click on the slow motion button to slow down the simulation and also
pause the simulation by clicking on the pause button at the bottom of the page.

Speed of Skater High Kinetic
Medium Kinetic
Low Kinetic
Fast

Medium

Slow

6. Make observations of the speed and kinetic energy changes.
7. Start the skater at different heights and observe changes in speed.

Observations (What do you notice about the kinetic energy when the position of the skater changes?) minimum 3 observations
1.

2.

3.

Conclusion
1. When would the skater have the most kinetic energy?

Extension

1. If you are going to build a rollercoaster, what consideration would you make to
ensure your ride had the fastest speed?

2. Go to the Playground section and create a track with the fastest speeds. Set
friction to Lots. Explain what you had to do to get the skater to her top speed.