Answers to Energy Transformation Activities

Activity 1 – Stretch Your Mind

This station requires you to shoot an elastic band. Be very safe. You must wear safety goggles at this station.

Experiment 1 – Stretch the elastic band and aim it at the target at the wall. Release the elastic band as you are aiming at the target.

1.      Describe what happened as you released the elastic band.

2.      What energy transformations are taking place?

2. Chemical energy in our bodies to mechanical energy of our arms to elastic potential energy to mechanical energy and gravitational energy to sound energy and thermal energy

Experiment 2 – Place the elastic band against your wrist and feel its temperature. Holding the elastic band (don’t let go during this experiment) stretch and release the elastic ten times. Test the temperature against your wrist immediately after the tenth test

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1.      What changes in temperature did you notice?

2.      How can you explain the change in temperature using energy transformations?

2. Chemical energy to mechanical energy to elastic energy (friction creates thermal energy)

Activity 2 – A Bright Idea

This station has a battery, two wires and a pair of light bulbs hooked up in a circuit. If the circuit is not attached, find a way to make the light turn on.

Experiment – Turn the switch on and off.

1.      Draw a diagram of the circuit.

2.      Identify what energy transformations are taking place when the switch is in the “on” position.

2. Chemical energy to electrical energy to light energy and thermal energy

Activity 3 – Ping Pong Paradox

This station has one ping pong ball. Please be careful not to bounce the ball too high.

Experiment – While standing, drop the ball from the height of 2 meters. Observe what happens. Wait until the ball stops bouncing before picking it up.

1.      What did you observe once you released the ball? Be sure to include what happened to the height of the ball as it bounced back each time.

2.      Why does the height of the ball change?

3.      What energy transformations are taking place during this experiment?

3. Gravitational energy to mechanical energy to sound and thermal energy to elastic energy to mechanical energy and back to  gravitational potential energy

Activity 4 – Hot Stuff!

This station has a hot plate. Be sure not to touch the hot plate or move it in any way. Please wear goggles at this station.

Observe the spiral.

1.      What observations can you make?

2.      What energy transformations are taking place?

2. Electrical Energy to thermal energy to the thermal energy of the air particles to mechanical energy of the spiral

Activity 5 – That’s Attractive!

This station has nails and a magnet. Be careful with the nails, they are sharp.

Experiment – Use the magnet to pick up the nails.

1.      Draw a diagram of your observations

2.      What type energy can you describe?

2. Magnetic energy (a type of potential energy

Activity 6 – You Spin Me Around

This station has a hot light bulb. Be very careful not to burn yourself.

Experiment – Place the Radiometer in front of the light and turn on the light.

1.      Draw a diagram of what you observed.

2.      What energy transformations are taking place?

Electrical energy to light and heat energy (infra-red radiation) to thermal energy of air to mechanical energy of spinning wheel

Activity 7 – Good Vibrations

This station has some salt, a bowl and a pot. Please be respectful of the noise level and clean up any mess. Be sure that the plastic wrap is tight around the bowl before you begin.

Experiment – place some salt on the plastic wrap. Holding the metal bowl above the salt, hit the bottom of the metal bowl with the spatula.

1.      What did you observe when you hit the bowl with the spatula?

2.      Why do you think the salt moved?

3.      Explain what energy transformations are taking place.

3. Mechanical energy of arm to sound energy from bowl to mechanical energy of air to mechanical energy of aluminum foil to mechanical energy of salt particles

Activity 8 – The Fickle Nickel

This station has a glass bottle, a nickel and some water in a beaker. Please be careful not to break anything.

Experiment – Dip the top of the bottle and the nickel in the water. Place the nickel on top of the bottle. Be sure that the water is sealing any space between the bottle and the nickel. Place your hands around the bottle and hold them there.

1.      What did you observe once you held your hands against the bottle for a while?

2.      Why did the nickel move?

3.      What energy transformations do you think are taking place?

2. The nickel moved because the air inside the bottle was heated and expanded. The air pressure forced the nickel to move so the air could escape.

3. Chemical energy to thermal energy from body is transferred (radiated) to the bottle and then to the air inside the bottle. The air particles have thermal energy (kinetic) which speeds up and expands the air particles.