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Phet Skatepark Virtual Lab

Last updated about 5 years ago
19 questions
All objects have energy, regardless of their motion. The law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but can be transferred from one form to another. This means that if an object has a certain amount of energy, it will keep that energy unless the energy is transferred to another object.

Energy can be grouped into the following types:
  • Kinetic Energy (KE) is the energy of motion. Any object that is moving has kinetic energy.
  • Potential Energy (PE) is the energy an object has due to its position or condition. In this simulation, we will be focusing on a specific type of potential energy: gravitational potential energy (GPE).
  • Mechanical Energy (ME) is the total energy of an object: the sum of kinetic energy & potential energy.

Go to this site, https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/energy-skate-park-basics/latest/energy-skate-park-basics_en.html

Then click "Intro"

I highly recommend that you open the virtual lab in a new window, while keeping this Formative open. Doing this will allow you to manipulate the interactive while keeping track of your work. This is what your screen should look like.
Set-Up Instructions:
  1. Check the “Grid” and “Bar Graph” boxes in the top right corner. Keep them open at all times.
  2. Explore the simulation, trying the various track designs in the bottom right corner. Observe how the skater's potential and kinetic energy change as he moves.
4

Label the point on the track below where the skater has the:
  1. Highest Potential Energy (HPE), Lowest Potential Energy (LPE), Highest Kinetic Energy (HKE), Lowest Kinetic Energy (LKE)

4

Label the point on the track below where the skater has the:
  1. Highest Potential Energy (HPE), Lowest Potential Energy (LPE), Highest Kinetic Energy (HKE), Lowest Kinetic Energy (LKE)

1

As the skater goes up the hill, his kinetic energy:

1

As he goes up the hill, his potential energy:

1

As he goes up the hill, his mechanical energy:

1

As he goes down the hill, his kinetic energy:

1

As he goes down the hill, his potential energy:

1

As he goes down the hill, his mechanical energy:

1

While he is moving, change the mass using the slider on the right side. Observe the energy graph.

If mass increases, what happens to kinetic energy?

1

While he is moving, change the mass using the slider on the right side. Observe the energy graph.

If mass increases, what happens to potential energy?

1

While he is moving, change the mass using the slider on the right side. Observe the energy graph.

If mass increases, what happens to mechanical (total) energy?

1

What happens to the total (mechanical) energy of the skater as time passes?

2

Check the “speed” box in the upper right corner. What is the relationship between speed and KE? (In other words, what happens to the speed as KE increases and decreases?)

2

Switch to the “Friction” tab at the bottom of the page.

What is different about the skater's motion with friction, compared to his motion without it?

2

Change the amount of friction using the slide bar on the right.

How does a small amount of friction affect the motion of the skater compared to how a larger amount of friction affects his motion?

2

Based on what you observed in the simulation, what factors affect kinetic energy?

2

Based on what you observed in the simulation, what factors affect potential energy?

2

An archer stands on the ground and fires an arrow at a target. A second archer stands at the top of a building and holds an arrow in his hand. Which arrow has more potential energy? Explain.

2

An archer stands on the ground and fires an arrow at a target. A second archer stands at the top of a building and holds an arrow in his hand. Which arrow has more kinetic energy? Explain.