PhET Activity for MS-PS3-5: Energy Skate Park

DIRECTIONS:
1. Click the 'Intro' button on the main menu to begin.
2. Take a moment to identify the skater, the track, and the control panel on the right.
3. In the control panel, check the box for 'Pie Chart'.
4. In the control panel, check the box for 'Speed'.
5. Drag the skater and place them on the track at various heights.
6. Use the Play/Pause button at the bottom to start and stop the skater's motion.
Spend 2-3 minutes exploring the simulation. Place the skater at different starting points on the track and observe their motion. Pay attention to how the pie chart and the speedometer change as the skater moves. You do not need to change any other settings yet.

QUESTION: Are you acquainted with the tools in this simulation?

DIRECTIONS:
1. Ensure you are in the 'Intro' tab.
2. Click the orange 'Reset All' button in the bottom right corner.
3. Re-check the 'Pie Chart' checkbox.
4. Drag the skater to the very top of the left side of the ramp and release them.
5. Observe the pie chart as the skater moves up and down the ramp.

QUESTION: What forms of energy do the green and blue sections of the pie chart represent?

DIRECTIONS:
1. Press the 'Restart Skater' button to return the skater to the top of the ramp.
2. Check the 'Speed' checkbox in the right panel if it is not already checked.
3. Use the 'Slow' motion toggle at the bottom to get a better view.
4. Let the skater move down the ramp.

QUESTION: As the skater's speed increases, their kinetic energy (a)   .

DIRECTIONS:
1. Press the 'Restart Skater' button.
2. Click the green plus button to expand the 'Energy' bar graph panel on the left.
3. Release the skater from the top of the ramp.

QUESTION: Match the skater's position on the ramp to the energy description.

DIRECTIONS:
1. Press the 'Restart Skater' button.
2. In the right panel, move the 'Friction' slider to the middle of its range (towards 'Lots').
3. Release the skater from the top of the ramp.

QUESTION: When friction is present, some of the skater's mechanical energy (___ and ___) is converted into ___ energy, which causes the skater's motion to decrease.

(a)  

DIRECTIONS:
1. Click the orange 'Reset All' button.
2. In the right panel, click the fourth track icon (the one with a loop).
3. Ensure the 'Friction' slider is set to 'None'.
4. Expand the 'Energy' bar graph on the left.

5. 5. Release the skater from various heights to see what happens when the skater encounters the loop.
   
   QUESTION: Describe the minimum starting condition needed for the skater to successfully complete the loop. Why does starting the skater from a height equal to the top of the loop not work?

DIRECTIONS:
1. Ensure you are on the loop track with friction set to 'None'.
2. Place the skater at the top of the ramp and let them go. Observe how high they go on the other side of the initial drop.
3. Press 'Restart Skater'.
4. In the right panel, move the 'Mass' slider to the maximum value (100 kg).
5. Release the skater from the exact same starting height.

QUESTION: With friction turned off, how does increasing the skater's mass affect their ability to complete the loop, assuming they start from the same height?

DIRECTIONS:
1. Ensure you are on the loop track, mass is 100kg, and friction is 'None'.
2. Make sure the 'Energy' bar graph is visible.
3. Place the skater at the top of the ramp and pause the simulation before releasing them. Note the 'Total Energy'.
4. Move the 'Mass' slider to a smaller value (e.g., 25 kg).
5. Place the skater at the same height. Note the new 'Total Energy'.

QUESTION: Although changing the mass changes the total amount of ___ in the system, it does not change the ___ of energy between potential and kinetic forms.

(a)  

DIRECTIONS:
1. Click the 'Measure' tab at the bottom of the screen.
2. Observe the new 'Energy' measurement tool available on the left.
3. Drag the skater to the top of the ramp and release them.

4. 4. Pause the skater at the top of the other side of the ramp.
   4. Drag the measurement tool and place it on one of the dots along the path.
   
   QUESTION: What information does the measurement tool provide when placed on the skater's path?

DIRECTIONS:
1. Ensure you are in the 'Measure' tab with friction at 'None'.
2. Release the skater from the top of the ramp.
3. Pause the simulation exactly when the skater is at the very bottom of the ramp.
4. Drag the measurement tool along the path and see how kinetic, potential, and total energy changes.

QUESTION: At the lowest point of the track (with friction off), which statement about the energy is most accurate?