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PART 4 Energy Skate Park - Draw Your Own

Last updated 12 months ago
7 questions
Open the Simulation at http://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/energy-skate-park-basics/latest/energy-skate-park-basics_en.html

Setup:
  • Stay in Playground.
  • Remove the checkmarks except for “grid.”
  • Move the friction slider to "none."
  • Keep the track setting so she stays on the track.
Required
1

Directions:
  1. Remember to move the friction slider to "none!"
  2. Create a loop so that the skater will make it all the way through the loop as they travel from left to right. (It's ok if it flies off the track at the end as long as it makes the loop.) Here’s how to make a loop. Keep redesigning the loop until you are successful. Hint: Some people think that the shape of the loop matters, but keep in mind that this is a frictionless environment; no energy is lost in tight corners. Try not to focus on the shape and instead, focus on what you have learned about the transfer between gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy.
  3. Screenshot your final design below.
To screenshot:
  1. Hold down the Ctrl button and push the button above the 6 that looks like a bunch of little boxes stacked on each other.
To attach the screenshot:
  1. Click Show Your Work below.
  2. Paste (ctrl+v) your picture in the giant white box

In a frictionless environment, all of the energy an object has due to its height off the ground (gravitational potential energy), will be transferred to its speed at the bottom of the hill (kinetic energy). Then, all of the kinetic energy it has at the bottom of the hill will be turned into gravitational potential energy when it returns to its original height. The skater can't gain height without losing speed, and they can't gain speed without losing height. This is the law of conservation of energy. You can't get something for nothing; you only get out what you put in. (There's that life lesson again.)

*In other words, as long as there is no friction, if the height of the first hill is larger than anything else, the skateboarder will have enough speed to make it through to the end no matter what design is in the middle.*
Some people think that the shape of the loop matters, but keep in mind that this is a frictionless environment; no energy is lost in tight corners.

For the next four questions:

  • Predict whether the skater will make it to the end the path. Assume the beginning is the red dot farthest to the left.
  • Explain in two sentences or less. Use complete sentences with your best punctuation, spelling, and grammar.
  • Assume there is no friction.
Required
2

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2

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2

Required
2

You only need to watch the first 22 seconds.


Read this: If energy can't be created or destroyed, Shaun White shouldn't be able to go higher than the height he started from.

But it's clear in the video that every time he flies off the ramp, he is higher than he was at the start. He is even higher than the platform that he started on!
Required
2

Pay close attention to the skating technique as he goes back and forth. What is it about Mr. White's technique that allows him to add energy to the system?

Use complete sentences with your best punctuation, spelling, and grammar.

Required
1

What type of additional energy is he contributing to the system?

Be specific. It's one of the ones you learned in class. It's not a force.