Students design, build and test model roller coasters using foam tubing. The design process integrates energy concepts as they test and evaluate designs that address the task as an engineer would. The goal is for students to understand the basics of engineering design associated with kinetic and potential energy to build an optimal roller coaster. The marble starts with potential energy that is converted to kinetic energy as it moves along the track. The diameter of the loops that the marble traverses without falling out depends on the kinetic energy obtained by the marble.

In this activity, students will explore how the Law of Conservation of Energy (the First Law of Thermodynamics) applies to atoms, as well as the implications of heating or cooling a system. This activity focuses on potential energy and kinetic energy as well as energy conservation. The goal is to apply what is learned to both our human scale world and the world of atoms and molecules.

In this site from the physics classroom, kinetic energy is defined and discussed. The equation for its computation is also given and practice computation problems are given.

Biology 2e is designed to cover the scope and sequence requirements of a typical two-semester biology course for science majors. The text provides comprehensive coverage of foundational research and core biology concepts through an evolutionary lens. Biology includes rich features that engage students in scientific inquiry, highlight careers in the biological sciences, and offer everyday applications. The book also includes various types of practice and homework questions that help students understand—and apply—key concepts. The 2nd edition has been revised to incorporate clearer, more current, and more dynamic explanations, while maintaining the same organization as the first edition. Art and illustrations have been substantially improved, and the textbook features additional assessments and related resources.

By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following:

Define “energy”
Explain the difference between kinetic and potential energy
Discuss the concepts of free energy and activation energy
Describe endergonic and exergonic reactions

Learn the basics of the conservation of energy in this video. Learn about potential and kinetic energy. [10:57]

Khan Academy learning modules include a Community space where users can ask questions and seek help from community members. Educators should consult with their Technology administrators to determine the use of Khan Academy learning modules in their classroom. Please review materials from external sites before sharing with students.

Students design and build devices to protect and accurately deliver dropped eggs. The devices and their contents represent care packages that must be safely delivered to people in a disaster area with no road access. Similar to engineering design teams, students design their devices using a number of requirements and constraints such as limited supplies and time. The activity emphasizes the change from potential energy to kinetic energy of the devices and their contents and the energy transfer that occurs on impact. Students enjoy this competitive challenge as they attain a deeper understanding of mechanical energy concepts.

Students examine how different balls react when colliding with different surfaces, giving plenty of opportunity for them to see the difference between elastic and inelastic collisions, learn how to calculate momentum, and understand the principle of conservation of momentum.

In this activity, students examine how different balls react when colliding with different surfaces. Also, they will have plenty of opportunity to learn how to calculate momentum and understand the principle of conservation of momentum.

In the following video Paul Andersen explains how linear momentum is conserved in all collisions. In completely elastic collisions the kinetic energy of the objects is also maintained. Several examples and demonstrations are included. [7:18]

In the following video Paul Andersen explains how energy can be transferred from warmer objects to colder objects through heat. Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance. When two objects are in contact collisions between the particles will transfer energy from the warmer object in the form of heat. [5:05]

In the following video Paul Andersen explains how heating is the transfer of energy (heat) from a warmer object to a cooler object. Heat can be transferred through conduction, convection and radiation. At the microscopic level conduction results from the collision of particles and therefore the transfer of kinetic energy. [3:32]

In the following video Paul Andersen explains how the kinetic energy of an object if due to the motion of an object. Objects can have kinetic energy but they cannot have potential energy unless they are part of a system. [4:47]

In the following video Paul Andersen explains how conservative forces can be used to store potential energy in an object or a system. The work done is equal to the amount of potential energy in the object. The following conservative forces are described; gravitational, spring and electric force. [6:39]

In the following video Paul Andersen explains how the total energy of a system is the combination of kinetic, potential and internal energy of the objects. He then shows you how to calculate the kinetic energy, gravitational potential energy, and elastic potential energy of objects within a system. Over time the total energy of the system will change due to changes in position and frictional effects. [6:14]

In the following video Paul Andersen explains how the kinetic energy gained by an object is equivalent to the work done on the object. The force on the object must act parallel or antiparallel to the motion of the object to do work. [8:12]

In the following video Paul Andersen explains how the mechanical energy added or removed from a system results from work. For work to occur a force must act parallel to the displacement of the system. Since work and energy are equivalent the work-energy theorem allows of for calculating the work as the change in kinetic energy. [7:01]