Name:
To open the simulation, Google “Energy Skate Park”, and
click on the first link. Click “Download” or “Run Now!”
You should see the screen to the right. Before continuing,
go through and check off the following checklist to make
sure that the simulation is set up for these activities.
□ Choose the skater that best represents you as a person.
□ Check the box for “Potential Energy Reference”.
□ Set the h = 0 line to be at the lowest point of the track.
□ Check the box for “Grid”.
□ Click “Energy Graphs - Bar Graph” and zoom out.
Part I: Some Preliminary Tests...
1) Take a look at the skater initially oscillating. Construct an Energy Bar Chart for the system at the three
points, A, B and C, shown below. A and C correspond to the skater’s peak on each side of the track.
h=0
2) Click on “Energy Graphs - Energy vs. Position” and watch the graphs form. In the space below, sketch
the graphs of the skater’s KE, GPE, and Total Energy. Make sure to label which graph is which.
A
B
C
x (m)
3) In the space below, explain why each of the three Energy vs. Position graphs looks the way that it does.
© 2015, The Universe and More, Inc.
Part 2: Surprising Results
1) Construct the track shown below. If the track is frictionless and you release the skater from rest at point A,
to what maximum position will it reach on the other side? Label that point B on the picture.
Explain why you chose the peak on the other side to be where you did.
2) a) Construct the three frictionless tracks shown below. The skater is released from the same height (the dotted
line) on each, and slides all the way down to ground level. Draw the energy bar chart for a trip down each
slide. In each scenario, initial is the instant of release, and final is almost at ground level (but not at rest!).
hi
KEi GPEi
KEf
GPEf
KEi GPEi
KEf
GPEf
KEi GPEi
KEf
GPEf
b) Which skater starts with the greatest GPE? Explain your answer, and use the equation GPE = mgh.
c) Which skater ends up with the greatest KE? Explain your answer, using the Law of Conservation of Energy.
d) Which skater will be traveling fastest at the bottom, or will they be going at the same speed? Explain your
answer, using the equation KE = 1/2 mv2.
© 2015, The Universe and More, Inc.
Part 3: Getting Creative
1) By snapping together and bending track segments, construct a track that starts on a large hill, and then
contains a loop-the-loop, and then a smaller hill. Draw your track below, and label all important heights.
Make sure to draw the graph to scale as best as you can, and label the coordinate grid with your numbers.
a) On your track above, label points (A) - the top of the first hill, (B) - the lowest point of the first hill,
(C) The top of the loop-the-loop, and (D), the end of the track. Release the skate from point A and
watch their journey. In the space, construct an energy bar chart for the various points on the trip.
b) By using the equation GPE = mgh, calculate the skater’s GPE at point A.
c) What is the total energy of the skater?
d) At point B, what is the total energy of the skater? Explain your answer.
© 2015, The Universe and More, Inc.
Part 4: Introducing Friction
1) Set the coefficient of friction between the skater and the track to be at its maximum value, and
construct the track shown below. Make sure that when the skater reaches D, he/she is stopped.
Also, make sure to set h = 0 as shown in the picture.
h=4m
h=0m
a) In the space below, construct an energy bar chart for the various points on the trip, assuming that the
skater started at rest at point A. TE stands for Thermal Energy. If you’re stuck, click “Energy Graphs Bar Graph” and reset the skater’s motion!
KE
GPE TE
KE
GPE TE
KE
GPE TE
KE
GPE TE
b) Explain your results from above, use the Law of Conservation of Energy to explain why your bar charts
are consistent. What happens in terms of energy transformations when friction is introduced to the system?
2) Hit “Reset” to get the track shown below. If the track has friction and you release the skater from rest at
point A, to what maximum position will it reach on the other side? Label that as point B on the picture.
Explain why you chose the peak on the other side to be where you did.
h=0
© 2015, The Universe and More, Inc.
Just For Fun!
1) Can you make the skater go through three loops in a row?
2) Can you make the skater go through a loop within a loop?
3) Can you right-click the track for Roller Coaster Mode?
4) Can you put the skater in space??