Energy in Collisions: Rolling Ramp and Review (for High School)
Students explore the concepts of mechanical energy, work and power, momentum, and friction by rolling a ball down an inclineCopyright http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Zorbing.jpg
In this hands-on activity—rolling a ball down an incline and having it collide into a cup—the concepts of mechanical energy, work and power, momentum, and friction are all demonstrated. During the activity, students take measurements and use equations that describe these energy of motion concepts to calculate unknown variables and review the relationships between these concepts.
Light rail trains are a modern form of public transportation powered by overhead electrical lines that travel along a dedicated pathway of steel rails. To design these trains to be quiet, efficient and safe, engineers considere all of the energy of motion concepts: the work required to convert the mechanical energy when the train goes from a stopped position to forward/backward motion, how much momentum the train acquires between stations, and the power required to overcome the friction between the train's wheels and the effects of drag.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Identify components of mechanical energy, work and power, momentum and friction and how they interrelate.
- Construct a model to demonstrate potential and kinetic energy, work, power, momentum and friction.
- Explain that energy, work and power, momentum and friction can be described by equations.
- Use multiple equations to solve for unknown variables.