Name:____________________________________

Block:____ Date:____ /____

/____

Energy Skate Park Basics HTML 5 PhET Lab

PreLab:
Click on the Energy Skate Park Basics Link on our Edmodo page
Select: Intro

1) Open the Simulation. What can you change about the simulation?
Item Changed

Outcome

2) On the track of your choice, select Pie Chart What three types of
energy are show in the chart?
Energy Type

Definition

Adapted From PhET, Credit: Elyse Zimmer, Trish Loblein

Name:____________________________________

Block:____ Date:____ /____

/____

Energy Transfer Mechanisms

1) Create your own track using the playground window or select one of the
premade tracks in the intro window. Draw four points on your track that
you would like to investigate.

2) Fill in the predictions column by sketching what you think the Energy
pie chart will look like for the ball at your four points. Then, use the
simulation to test your ideas and explain any differences.
Point
1

Prediction

Simulation

Explain Differences

2
3
4

3) The Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy cannot be

created or destroyed only transformed from one type to another.
a) What type(s) of energy did the skater have at the tracks highest point?

Adapted From PhET, Credit: Elyse Zimmer, Trish Loblein

Name:____________________________________

Block:____ Date:____ /____

/____

b) What type(s) of energy did the skater at the lowest point on the track?

c) What type of energy transfer mechanism do you think accounts for the
difference between the highest and lowest point in the motion of the skater?

Part 2 Energy due to motion and position

4) Label on the track where you
predict the skater will is

a) at his maximum speed

b) stopped
c) going his average speed
d) going slow
e) going fast

5) On the graph to the right label where you predict the skater is
a) at his maximum speed
b) stopped
c) going his average speed
d) going slow
e) going fast

Adapted From PhET, Credit: Elyse Zimmer, Trish Loblein

Name:____________________________________

Block:____ Date:____ /____

/____

Post Lab
7) The diagram below shows a frictionless track.

Assume a skater were to complete the track. At which positions is the sum
of the potential and kinetic energy of the same? Support your claim with
evidence.

8) Using the diagram in Question 7, assume that the skater moves from
point 1 to point 2. What type of energy transfer mechanism between those
two points?

Adapted From PhET, Credit: Elyse Zimmer, Trish Loblein