Kinetic and Potential Energy Conservation

What is energy conservation?

• We’ve already discussed the Law of Conservation of Energy!!! Do you remember what it is? Go back and check your notes. Then, watch this video and consider how it demonstrates (or doesn’t) the law of energy conservation:

How can you show Energy Conservation mathematically?

• The KE & PE before an action should always equal the KE & PE after an action.

• In other words, the energy you start with should always equal the energy you end with. It never disappears, but gets converted or transformed into other forms.

Check Your Understanding

• Do you really get what energy conservation is all about?

• How does a Newton’s Cradle demonstrate potential and kinetic energy conservation?

What does energy conservation have to do with roller coasters?

• Did you know that roller coasters use an engine to power the coaster ONLY AT THE VERY BEGINNING??? They’re dragged up to the top of the first hill, but from then on, no more external energy is added.

• WHY?! How does a roller coaster continue to move through the twists and turns of a track if it only uses an engine at the very beginning?!

• It has to do with Energy Conservation.

• Use the following links/videos to explain how

  • Energy Transformation on a Roller Coaster

  • Energy of a Roller Coaster

Roller Coaster Conclusion

The purpose of this unit is to learn about Kinetic and Potential energy, and then be able to apply that knowledge to a model and roller coasters. Here are the two learning goals you will be graded on:

Learning Goal #7: Analyze data to describe the relationship between an object’s mass, speed, and kinetic energy.

Learning Goal #8: Use a model to describe how distance affects the potential energy between objects.

Do you feel that you understand these? If so, work INDEPENDENTLY on the two conclusion questions.

 If you do not feel ready to answer them, (1) review the notes you took during the webquest, (2) do the virtual lab using this handout (make a copy!) and (3) seek help from a strong peer and teacher(s). You can do it!

Move on to Modeling your Roller Coaster