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Skate Park Energy Assignment 2021/2022

Last updated almost 4 years ago
11 questions
Note from the author:
Used Phet Skate Park Energy

Part 1: PhET Energy Skate Park

Click here > PhET Energy Skate Park

Follow the directions below to answer the following questions.

Instructions:
  1. Select the Intro Simulation located at the bottom of the simulation window.
  2. Select all of the following options located on the right-hand side of your screen:
  • U-shaped ramp
  • Pie Chart
  • Bar Graph
  • Grid
  • Leave the mass on the center setting
  • Slow motion (located at the bottom of the screen)
  1. Then, drag your skater onto the highest part of the U-shaped ramp and select the start arrow to begin.
1

As your skater is moving down the ramp from 6 meters to 4 meters, what happens to the potential energy?

1

As your skater is moving down the ramp from 6 meters to 4 meters, what happens to the kinetic energy?

1

As your skater is moving up the ramp from 2 meters to 4 meters, what happens to the potential energy?

1

As your skater is moving up the ramp from 2 meters to 4 meters, what happens to the kinetic energy?

1

According to the Law of Conservation of Energy, what is happening to the potential energy as the skater moves down the ramp?

Part 2: Design and Test a Skate Park Ramp

You will apply the engineering design process to design your own skate park ramp.

Instructions:
  1. Select the Playground Simulation at the bottom of the screen.
  2. Select all of the following options located on the right-hand side of your screen:
  • Pie Chart
  • Bar Graph
  • Grid
  • Leave mass on the center setting
  • Set friction to none
  • Select the right square picture below friction
  • Slow motion (located at the bottom of your screen)
1

Making a Hypothesis:

With the grid option on, make a hypothesis about how the starting height of the skater will affect the energy needed to successfully complete your skate park playground ramp design.

Example: If my skater begins at a height of ______ meters, then the skater will have enough total energy to successfully complete the skate park ramp from start to finish. (Type your full hypothesis below, not just the blanks you fill in!)

Design:

You will test a skate park ramp design that meets the following requirements:
  • Must include at least one loop
  • Must rest on the ground
  • The skater must complete a successful run from one side of the ramp to the other without falling off. (When he reaches the end, he should turn around and start moving backwards.)
To begin designing your skate park ramp, use the red ramp pieces located on the bottom left of the screen. Drag and drop sections of ramp onto the screen. You may also select and drag the red dots to extend, move, or connect each section.
1

On the space below, draw in the design of your ramp. Make sure it meets the requirements above!

1

How many loops did you include in your ramp design?

1

Adjust the friction to the middle of the slidebar.

By adding friction, what happens to your skater as he is traveling down the ramp?

1

What is the lowest starting height that the skater can be to successfully complete the entire ramp without falling off? (Use the grid option to determine the height in meters.)

1

Explain why the skater must be at a specific height at the start to successfully reach the end of the ramp. Be sure to use the terms "potential energy" and "kinetic energy" in your answer.