When we want to show how energy is conserved, there are some really fun and simple experiments we can do. Here are a few that are easy to understand and enjoyable!
One classic experiment is using a pendulum. Here’s how to do it:
Set Up: Get a small weight, like a washer, and attach it to a string. Hang the string from something so it swings freely. Make the string about one meter long.
Action: Pull the weight to one side and let it go. Watch it swing back and forth.
Observation: As the pendulum swings up, it slows down, stops for a moment, and then speeds up as it swings back down. This shows how energy changes from kinetic energy (energy of motion) to potential energy (stored energy due to its height). At the top of its swing, potential energy is at its highest, while at the bottom, kinetic energy is at its highest.
You can make a small roller coaster with a piece of foam pipe insulation cut in half:
Set Up: Use a marble as your "car".
Action: Roll the marble down from a high point and watch it go along the track.
Observation: As the marble rolls down, its gravitational potential energy changes into kinetic energy. If you start from a higher point, the marble will go faster, showing how energy changes with height.
This experiment is a bit more hands-on and also teaches us about the environment:
Set Up: Use a pizza box, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, and black paper.
Action: Line the inside of the box with black paper, cover the opening with plastic wrap, and put it in the sunlight. Add marshmallows or chocolate inside to see how they melt.
Observation: The sun’s energy gets trapped and turns into heat, showing how energy from sunlight changes into thermal energy in the food.
These experiments help us see how energy is conserved, and they can spark curiosity and understanding among students. With these hands-on activities, you'll be able to witness energy transferring and changing right before your eyes, making the idea of energy conservation much easier to grasp!
When we want to show how energy is conserved, there are some really fun and simple experiments we can do. Here are a few that are easy to understand and enjoyable!
One classic experiment is using a pendulum. Here’s how to do it:
Set Up: Get a small weight, like a washer, and attach it to a string. Hang the string from something so it swings freely. Make the string about one meter long.
Action: Pull the weight to one side and let it go. Watch it swing back and forth.
Observation: As the pendulum swings up, it slows down, stops for a moment, and then speeds up as it swings back down. This shows how energy changes from kinetic energy (energy of motion) to potential energy (stored energy due to its height). At the top of its swing, potential energy is at its highest, while at the bottom, kinetic energy is at its highest.
You can make a small roller coaster with a piece of foam pipe insulation cut in half:
Set Up: Use a marble as your "car".
Action: Roll the marble down from a high point and watch it go along the track.
Observation: As the marble rolls down, its gravitational potential energy changes into kinetic energy. If you start from a higher point, the marble will go faster, showing how energy changes with height.
This experiment is a bit more hands-on and also teaches us about the environment:
Set Up: Use a pizza box, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, and black paper.
Action: Line the inside of the box with black paper, cover the opening with plastic wrap, and put it in the sunlight. Add marshmallows or chocolate inside to see how they melt.
Observation: The sun’s energy gets trapped and turns into heat, showing how energy from sunlight changes into thermal energy in the food.
These experiments help us see how energy is conserved, and they can spark curiosity and understanding among students. With these hands-on activities, you'll be able to witness energy transferring and changing right before your eyes, making the idea of energy conservation much easier to grasp!