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This activity illustrates
potential and kinetic energy. To establish
potential energy, you must first establish the
conditions of the situation for energy. For
example, the height or distance of the ends of the
track from the floor is different than the height
or distance of the ends of the track from the seat
of the chairs. Therefore, you must establish the
conditions of height or distance. The marble held
at the end of the track with the established
conditions of height or distance has the potential
to MOVE the length of that established distance or
height if a force, namely that of gravity, were to
release the potential energy of the marble. Once
the marble is let go, the force of gravity (a
pulling force) releases the potential of the marble
to drop and the marble drops the established
distance or height. Work has been done. Work is the
force times the distance.
The marble gains energy by
traveling down the slanted track. The higher the
marble's starting point, the greater the energy it
has at the bottom. On top of each hill the amount
of energy the marble has is called potential
energy. When you place the marble in the valley, or
at the bottom of the big U, it doesn't go anywhere.
Its potential energy is ZERO. However, when it
rolls into this valley from the top of the track,
it keeps traveling. The marble at that point is
said to have kinetic energy. The kinetic energy
enables the moving marble to travel up the next
hill.
Report back to your Mummy and
tell him what you've learned!
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