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2.2B Lab Instructions - Powered Playground - Physics

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17 views5 pages

2.2B Lab Instructions - Powered Playground - Physics

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s5005k12ttu
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Name _________________________________Class __________________ Date ________________________

UNIT – PLAYGROUND PHYSICS

TOPIC – POWERED PLAYGROUND


In this lab, you will learn about different types of energy and how energy can be
transferred.
CONTENT OBJECTIVES
• TEKS Science 5.8A: I will investigate how different types of energy can be transferred and I
will describe which energy systems I would use to power my “Powered Playground”.
LANGUAGE OBJECTIVES
• ELPS Writing 5.G: I will be able to describe the energy systems I used to power my
“Powered Playground”.
KEY VOCABULARY
• Energy
• Energy System
• Transformation
• Mechanical Energy
• Electrical Energy
• Thermal Energy
• Light Energy
• Chemical Energy
• Limitation
DURATION
• 1 hour

MATERIALS
• Powered Playground - Lab Recording Sheet
• Device with Internet Access
Name _________________________________Class __________________ Date ________________________

PROCEDURE
PART A: TYPES OF ENERGY
1. On your device, got to the PhET Energy Forms and Changes simulation
website.
2. Click on “Systems”

3. Then, click on “Energy Symbols”

4. Before you begin, play around with the different objects on this page. The
steps below will walk you through each item, but sometimes we learn more
when we are able to explore first. Take a few minutes to play around with
this “Energy Forms and Changes Simulation”.
5. After exploring, you will now practice using some of the equipment in this
simulation.
6. First, reset the simulation to its original state by pushing the orange reverse
button. See image below:

7. Reselect the “Energy Symbols” option.

8. Now, using the original set up of the bicyclist, generator, and water, move
the slide bar to the middle. This will put the cyclist in motion.
Name _________________________________Class __________________ Date ________________________

9. Watch this energy system and slowly count to 10. After you count to 10,
push pause. You should have an image like the one below:

10. Using the Powered Playground - Lab Recording Sheet, answer the
following questions:
• 10.1 - The water has the “red” boxes again. What type of energy
does the red “E” box represent and where does it originate (begin)?
Why does it begin there?
• 10.2 - There are the new green “E” boxes located on the cyclist’s
stomach. What type of energy do these boxes represent? Why are
the green boxes located only on the person at their stomach?
• 10.3 - As the person cycles, the green boxes turn into grey boxes
where the foot pushes the bicycle. What type of energy do the gray
boxes represent? Why do the green boxes turn gray when the foot
touches the pedal on the bicycle?
• 10.4 - Inside the generator, the gray boxes turn blue. What type of
energy do the blue boxes represent? Where did they begin? What
is the purpose of a generator? (Hint: a generator creates or in other
words it generates) …
• 10.5 - The blue energy boxes move to the bottom of the water.
What do the blue energy boxes do to the ring (coil) under the
water? Provide the box color, the type of energy it represents,
where it is located and the energy’s purpose.
• 10.6 - Starting from the person and ending with the Water, write
what types of energy are transferred to the next to create the
complete Energy System.
11. Push play on the simulation. What happens to the cyclist? What do you
need to do for the cyclist to ensure energy is continuously produced?
Name _________________________________Class __________________ Date ________________________

12. Using the Powered Playground - Lab Recording Sheet, explain why this
energy system would not work to power a house or a city. What are the
limitations of this energy system?
• Note: A limitation is a possible problem or restriction. In
this case, explain what problem could prevent this from
being a good power source for a house or city.
13. There is one colored energy box not in use. Return to the simulator and
select one of the objects below to replace the cyclist.

14. Using the Powered Playground - Lab Recording Sheet, explain which
object produced the missing energy box?
• What type of energy does the missing energy box represent?
Where is this energy located?
15. Push play after replacing the cyclist with the sun. Does this energy system
work? What are some of the limitations of the Sun as an energy source?
16. Replace the generator with a solar panel and the water with the lightbulb.
Your new energy system should look like this:

17. Push play on this simulation for this new system. Starting from the sun
and ending with the lightbulb, write what types of energy are transferred to
the next to create the complete Energy System.

PART B: POWERED PLAYGROUND


18. In the box below are some images of playground equipment. Your
playground is special. All your playground equipment moves, and each
object is powered by a different system. Using the same energy system
diagram, explain what you would use to power each object below.
Name _________________________________Class __________________ Date ________________________

Power Source Playground

Explanation - My playground has a slide! But the ladder to the slide moves and the person can
ride the ladder up (like an escalator) to the slide. See how I powered the ladder using thermal
energy and a solar panel.

Energy Source My Powered Playground

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