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There are 3 sections to this potential and kinetic energy activity…
Part One (Introduction):
- Read a brief introduction to kinetic and potential energy, gravitational potential energy, as well as the law of conservation of energy.
Part Two (GPE and Height):
- Learn how gravitational potential energy (GPE) is calculated.
- Measure the mass of a tennis ball and calculate its GPE at different heights. (The document leads students step-by-step through the easy math.)
- Graph simple GPE data on a pre-made graph.
- Make a claim based on evidence about how height relates to GPE.
Part Three (GPE and KE):
- Perform a simple lab in which students drop a tennis ball from different heights and measure its bounce height.
- Graph GPE and bounce height data on a pre-made graph.
- Make connections between GPE and resulting KE.
- Make a claim based on evidence about how the potential energy of an object affects its kinetic energy when it drops.
Materials Required:
- 1 tennis ball per group (link to cheap ones)
- 1 meter stick per group
Teacher Notes:
- Includes a suggested answer key.
- Please note: This PDF resource is NOT editable.
- We have lots of related resources in the ENERGY SECTION OF OUR STORE.
This energy activity supports the standards:
- NGSS MS-PS3-1, MS-PS3-5, MS-PS2-2
- NGSS Science & Engineering Practice: Analyzing and interpreting data
- NGSS Science & Engineering Practice: Using mathematics and computational thinking
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