Energy Skate Park
Focus Question
What is the relationship between potential energy and kinetic energy?
Materials
Lab sheet, PhET Skate Park Simulation (online)
Turn/Talk/Record (2 minutes)
1. In your own words, describe potential energy.
2. In your own words, describe kinetic energy.
3. Brainstorm – how many examples of potential to kinetic energy can
you list here?
5. Let’s make some observations. Click on the bar graph, grid and
speed options to help you make your observations. Do not change
the mass of the skateboarder.
What type of energy is lost as the skateboarder moves down the
ramp?
What type energy is gained as the skateboarder moves down the
ramp?
What do you notice about the total energy of the skateboarder?
6. Complete the table below.
Height of Skateboarder
in meters (m)
Which energy is the greatest?
(Potential or Kinetic)
4. Go to the following website
https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/energy-skate-park-basics
Take a few minutes to explore the website. What can you change as
you explore the skate park?
7. Using evidence from the observations you recorded in the table,
explain how the height of the skateboarder changes the total
potential energy?
8. Complete the table below.
Speed
Which is greater –
potential or kinetic
energy?
Which is less –
potential or kinetic
energy?
10. So far in your exploration, the energy bar has remained the same.
Find different ways to change the total energy. Record your
observations in the table below.
Change
Did the energy bar increase of
decrease?
11. Using evidence from the observations you recorded in the table,
explain what factors increase and decrease the total energy?
9. Using evidence from the observations you recorded in the table,
explain the relationship between kinetic energy and speed?
12. What is the relationship between potential and kinetic energy?