Energy Transformations
Activities
Students engage in
different activities to observe energy changing
form!
Name:_________________________
Energy Labs and Activities
Activity 1: Static Electricity
Procedure: Chew a life saver in the dark, while looking in a mirror or at
your classmates’ mouths
Gl
h
t
e
u
d
is si
n
w
o
ed
1.
What happens to the Wint-O-Green Life Saver when you chew it?
____________________________________________________
2. What is the scientific explanation for this?____________________
_______________________________________________________
Energy Conversion:
Activity 2: To Glow or Not to Glow?
Observation Chart:
Water Tempera-
Describe the Light Output
ture
(bright or dim?)
Ice Water
Hot Water
1.
How does the water temperature affect the light output?
_______________________________________________________
2. Why do you think the water temperature affected the light output?
_____________________________________________________
3. What was the energy transformation that was taking place?
Activity 3: The Wire Hanger
Activity 5: The Hand Warmers
Procedure:
Procedure: DO NOT OPEN THE NEW HANDWARMER YET. Follow all
1.
Feel the wire hanger. How does the temperature of the hanger feel to
the touch?__________________________
directions on the instruction sheet.
Q1: What happens to iron when it is exposed to oxygen?
2. Rapidly bend the wire hanger back and forth several times. Now feel
the temperature of the hanger again. How does it feel now?
Q2: How did the temperature change over time?
_______________________________
3. What energy transformation took place?
Q3: What energy conversions took place?
Old Packet
Temperature
Activity 4: Baking Soda and Vinegar
New Packet
Immediately
At 3 mins
At 6 mins
Procedure:
1.
Measure 40 mL of vinegar and pour into the plastic baggie.
2. Take the temperature of the vinegar and record it in the data table
below.
Activity 6: Radiometer
Draw and label the radiometer:
3. LEAVING THE THERMOMETER in the baggie, add one spoonful of
baking soda to the bag and watch what happens to the temperature.
Record the final temperature below.
Substance:
Vinegar only
Vinegar + Baking Soda
Temperature:
1.
Q1: What happened during this reaction?
Explain how light affects a radiometer:______________________
2. Would a radiometer work if the vanes were all one color?_______
Why or why not?_______________________________________
Q2: What energy transformation took place when the baking soda and
vinegar were mixed?
_______________________________________________________
(Hint: read the information on how a radiometer works)
Materials:
Activity 1:
~One Wintergreen life saver per student
Activity 2:
~Two Glow-sticks per class period
~A cup of ice water and a cup of hot water
Activity 3:
~Wire hangers (several, as they wear out/break easily)
~Vinegar
~Baking Soda
~Ziploc Baggies
~Thermometers
Activity 4:
~Air-Activated hand warmers (one “old” one that has already been exposed to air and has run its course, and one new one per group)
~Ziploc Baggies
~Thermometers
Activity 5:
~Radiometer
~Lamp
~Colored Pencils
Instructions for Activity 2:
1. Look at the two glow sticks.
2. Place one glow stick in the hot water cup and one glow stick in the cold water cup. Observe
what happens after a few minutes.
3. Be sure to compare how much light is produced by each glow stick.
Instructions for Activity 3:
1. Feel the wire hanger.
2. Rapidly bend the hanger back and forth.
3. Feel the wire hanger again.
Be sure to record your observations in your lab sheet.
Instructions for Activity 4:
1. Measure 40 mL of vinegar and pour into the plastic baggie.
2. Take the temperature of the vinegar and record it in the data table below.
3. LEAVING THE THERMOMETER in the baggie, add one spoonful of baking soda to the
bag and watch what happens to the temperature. Record the final temperature
Instructions for Activity 5:
1. Take the temperature of the hand warmer that is ALREADY in the Ziploc baggie. Record
the temperature in the data table.
2. Place the thermometer in the empty baggie.
3. Cut open the new hand-warmer and empty the contents into the Ziploc baggie. Take the
temperature immediately and record it in the data table.
4. Set a timer for 3 min DO NOT ZIP THE BAG CLOSED
5. Take the temperature again after the 3 min timer goes off and record it in the data table.
6. Re-set the timer for 3 min. Take the temperature when it goes off and record it in the
data table.
Instructions for Activity 6:
1. Draw a diagram of the Radiometer on your lab sheet.
2. Shine a light on the radiometer and observe what happens.
3. Read the background information on radiometers and answer all questions.