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?

PhET Skater.

2. Why did this skater have the most energy?

They weigh the most out of all the skaters.

3. Why does the total energy line remain flat?

Because total energy takes in to account both potential energy AND kinetic
energy.

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 skaters maximum potential energy when he
was placed further down the ramp?
He has less potential energy as he is placed further down the ramp.

5. Explain why this happened.

There is less room for him to gain energy, thus less of a chance, or potential,
to gain that energy.

6. What was the effect on the skaters maximum kinetic energy when he was
placed further down the ramp?
It was also lower.

7. Explain why this happened. (Note: it is not because of the height)

They had less room to build up kinetic energy, so unless they were getting
heavier as they went down, there would be less energy each time.

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

4750 3800 1300 13
Earth
800 700 225 2
Moon
12500 10000 3000 32
Jupiter

8. Explain why the maximum potential energy of the skaters was different at
each location.
The Gravity differed greatly between locations.

9. What are the values of gravity on Earth, on the Moon and on Jupiter?
Earth: 9.81
Moon: 1.62
Jupiter: 25.95

10. a) Increase the friction on the track and explain what effect this has on
the total energy of the skater.
No effect. The energy remained at 7,000 constantly on the loop.
b) What type of energy is the friction causing the other energy to transform
into?
Thermal Energy.