Michael Waller
Name:
Energy Skate Park
Create a ramp like the one shown that is 10 metres tall.
Make sure the ramp does not touch the ground.
Drop the skater from the top of the ramp so that he reaches
the top of the ramp on the other side and comes back again.
Open the ‘Energy vs. Position’ graph and wait until a full set
of data has been collected. Use this graph to fill in the
information in the table below.
PhET Skater Star Skater Bulldog Bug
Maximum 7300 6000 2000 20
potential energy
Minimum 0 0 0 0
potential energy
Maximum 7100 5600 1700 20
kinetic energy
1. Which of the skaters had the most energy?
The PhET skater will have the most energy.
2. Why did this skater have the most energy?
The PhET skater was the heaviest and contained the most mass.
3. Why does the total energy line remain flat?
The total energy line remains flat because potential energy and kinetic energy are taken
into account.
Set up your ramp so that it looks like the one
shown.
Drop the skater from each of the dots on the
ramp, starting from the top, and complete the
table below.
Dot 1 2 3 4 5 6
Max. potential
7100 6000 4750 3000 1500 200
energy
Max. kinetic
7100 6000 4750 3000 1500 200
energy
4. What was the effect on the skater’s maximum potential energy when he was placed
further down the ramp?
As the skater goes further down the ramp, the potential energy decreases .
5. Explain why this happened.
The skater’s maximum potential energy is dependent on skater’s height in relation to the
reference height. As the change between the skater’s initial height and final height
decreases, so does the potential energy.
6. What was the effect on the skater’s maximum kinetic energy when he was placed further
down the ramp?
As the skater goes further down the ramp, the kinetic energy decreases
7. Explain why this happened. (Note: it is not because of the height)
This happens because the maximum potential energy decreases. Since the law of
conservation of energy states that energy cannot be lost, the maximum kinetic energy
must be equivalent to the maximum potential energy
Set up your ramp so that it looks like the one shown.
In the table below record the maximum potential
energy for each of the skaters at the top of the loop.
Repeat this on the Moon, and on Jupiter. You will need
to place the skater at the top of the ramp each time you
change location.
PhET Skater Star Skater Bulldog Bug
7400 J 6000 J 2000 J 19 J
Earth
1200 J 1000 J 320 J 3J
Moon
19000 J 17000 J 5000 J 50 J
Jupiter
8. Explain why the maximum potential energy of the skaters was different at each location.
The maximum potential energy of the skaters were different at each location because
each location had a different gravitational force pulling downwards
9. What are the values of gravity on Earth, on the Moon and on Jupiter?
The value of gravity on Earth is 9.80m/s^2. The value of gravity on the Moon is
1.60m/s^2. The value of gravity on Jupitor is 24.5m/s^2
10. a) Increase the friction on the track and explain what effect this has on the total energy
of the skater.
When increasing the friction on the track, the total energy of the skater will remain the
same.
b) What type of energy is the friction causing the other energy to transform into?
The friction causing the other energy to transform into thermal energy
