The challenge for intermediates expands upon the basic concepts in the module for juniors. Intermediate participants will not only need to understand potential and kinetic energy, but also the conversion that happens between these two forms of energy. In addition to understanding the basic concepts of push and pull, intermediates will also be expected to know Newton's Laws of Motion and how friction affects how cars move.

Energy Transformation

Energy transformation (or energy conversion) is the process of changing one form of energy into another. For example, At the top of the hill, the coaster has maximum potential energy. As it descends, the potential energy transforms into kinetic energy (motion). There are five types of energy, but for this project, we will only focus on three of them:

Potential Energy: Stored energy that has the potential to do work (like a stretched rubber band or a book on a shelf).
Kinetic Energy: Energy of motion (like a moving car or a rolling ball).
Mechanical Energy: The sum of potential and kinetic energy in a system.

Watch the video to the left to learn more about energy transformation.

Energy Transformation Simulation

Use the skate park simulation to measure the energy transfer between potential, kinetic, and mechanical energy!

‪Energy Skate Park‬

Intermediates Energy Transformation.docx

Energy Transformation Activity

Download the instructions to the left for a demonstration on energy transfer using pendulums.

Newtons Laws of Motion

Sir Isaac Newton was a scientist who came up with three important rules about how things move. These rules are called Newton's Three Laws of Motion. Let's explore what each law means with some examples.

Newton's First Law of Motion: The Law of Inertia

Definition: An object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion stays in motion at the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.
Explanation: This means that things don't start moving or stop moving by themselves. They need a push or a pull (a force) to change what they’re doing. One example is a book lying on a table. The book will stay where it is until you pick it up or push it. If no one touches it, it will stay there forever.

Newton's Second Law of Motion: The Law of Acceleration

Definition: The acceleration of an object depends on the mass of the object and the amount of force applied. It can be summed up with the formula: F=maF = maF=ma (Force equals mass times acceleration).
Explanation: This means that how fast something moves (accelerates) depends on how heavy it is (mass) and how hard you push or pull it (force). The more force you use, the faster it moves. But if it's heavier, it needs more force to move. An example is pushing a shopping cart. If the cart is empty, it’s easy to push and it moves quickly. If it’s full of groceries, it’s harder to push and doesn’t move as fast. More force is needed to push a heavier cart.

Newton's Third Law of Motion: Action and Reaction

Definition: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Explanation: This means that when you push or pull something, it pushes or pulls back with the same amount of force. These forces are always equal and in opposite directions. An example is jumping off of a boat. When you jump off a boat, you push down on the boat (action) and the boat pushes you up into the air (reaction). That’s why the boat moves slightly in the opposite direction when you jump.

Watch the video below to review the three laws of motion.

Simulation for Newton's Laws

Test the simulation to learn more about Newton's Laws of Motion!

Intermediates Newtons Laws.docx

Laws of Motion Activity

Use the instructions on the left to do an activity to deepen your understanding of the three laws of motion.

Friction

The last concept you will need to learn about is friction and how it will impact your rubber band car. Friction is a force that happens when two surfaces rub against each other. It can slow things down or stop them from moving. There are two types of friction:

Static Friction: This is the friction that keeps an object at rest from moving. It has to be overcome to start the motion.
Kinetic (Sliding) Friction: This is the friction that happens when an object is already moving.

Friction Simulation

Try out this simulation to learn more about friction!

Intermediates Friction.docx

Friction & Cars

Try this activity to learn more about how friction can affect your rubber band car.

Ready to start learning about simple machines? Click here for the next module.

Page updated

Report abuse