1. What is (are) the point(s) where the pendulum will
have the maximum (most) potential energy.
2. At what point will the pendulum have the minimum
(least) potential energy?
3. What is the energy transformation when you are
jumping up and down on a trampoline?
4. In a pendulum swing, where is the maximum
kinetic energy located?
5. What happens to the energy within a roller
coaster?
6. Does the Sun’s energy disappear after it hits the
Earth? If not, what happens?
7. A strong wind is caused by what?
8. Explain the transformation from the Sun to a plant.
9. Does a snow ball sitting at the top of a hill have
potential or kinetic energy? Why?
10.The more mass something has the (more/less)
kinetic energy it will produce. Why?
Answers:
1. The maximum gravitational energy from gravity is when
the object is at its highest position on both sides of the
swing.
2. The minimum potential energy due to gravity occurs at
the lowest point of a swing.
3. The chemical energy in the blood is converted to
mechanical energy of motion, which is transformed into
heat (thermal) energy.
4. The maximum kinetic energy occurs at the lowest point
of the pendulum swing.
5. The Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy can
be created nor destroyed therefore it is transformed
from one kind of energy to another.
6. The Sun’s energy is transformed to heat energy, with
some of the energy re-radiating out in to space.
7. The Sun does not heat all portions of the Earth equally,
which results in expansion and motion of the heated
portions of the atmosphere to result in wind.
8. Nuclear fusion at the Sun produces sunlight
(electromagnetic radiation), which plants use to make
photosynthesis to produce food (chemical) energy.
9. The snowball will have stored potential energy.
10.The more mass something has the (more)
kinetic energy it will produce. Think about a car and a
truck at a stop light hitting their brakes. The car will be
able to stop sooner because it has less mass.