To discover loss of energy, students can use hotwheel cars. Students should measure the beginning height and the ending height of a hotwheel in order to find the loss of energy.
Activity:
- Measure the beginning height of and record it on a table.
- Release the car and measure its ending height on the other side and record it on the table.
- Making a loop and find the smallest beginning height for the car to go around the loop and record the height.
- Collect the data and graph it.
Students should be able to answer questions regarding where there’s more potential and kinetic energy in the experiment.
Purpose: To get a better understanding of potential and kinetic energy and how loss of energy can be calculated.
Introduce: BrainPop on both potential and kinetic energy
Difficulties: Measuring it correctly
Changes: N/A