Skate Park PHET
https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/legacy/energy-skate-park
Start with Fricton off. Set PE Reference in contact with bottom of track. Run it again with friction halfway on.
PE
KE PE TE
Total
KE
KE PE TE
Total
PE
KE PE TE
Total
KE
KE PE TE
Total
PE
Total
KE
Bar Graph
(Friction on halfway)
Total
PE
Explanation / Notes
Total
KE
Pie Chart
(no friction)
Total
Bar Graph
(no friction)
Design a Roller Coaster:

See board for directions
Post Lab:
Disregarding friction, predict where your skater would be based on the bar graphs
provided.
Follow-up Questions: (circle the MOST correct answers)
1. At the highest point kinetic energy is (zero / maximum while the potential energy is zero / maximum).
2. At the lowest point kinetic energy is (zero / maximum while potential energy is zero / maximum).
3. Mass (affects / does not affect) the amount of energy.
4. As an object falls in gravity, kinetic energy (increases / decreases / remains the same).
5. As an object falls in gravity, potential energy (increases / decreases / remains the same).
6. As an object falls in gravity, total energy (increases / decreases / remains the same).
7. An object travelling faster and faster has a kinetic energy that (increases / decreases / remains the same).
8. An object increasing in height has a potential energy that (increases / decreases / remains the same).
9. As an object slows down, the total kinetic energy (increases / decreases / remains the same).
10. As an object falls, the total potential energy (increases / decreases / remains the same).
Friction: an explanation:
11. Describe the effect of friction. Discuss Thermal Energy in your answer.