Camille Gales - Edward Coles Elementary School

Potential Energy: How is It Related to Kinetic Energy?

Camille Gales                  Edward Coles Elementary School
                               8441 S. Yates Boulevard        
                               CHICAGO IL 60617        
                               (773) 535-6550 

Objective(s): 

This is an integrated primary level math and science experience designed to 
demonstrate the relationship between potential energy and kinetic energy.  The 
greater the input of potential energy (altitude of the ramp), greater the 
output of kinetic energy (distance traveled).  The steeper the ramp the 
greater the distance an object will travel (roll). 

Materials Needed:  

matchbox toy cars, a ramp with an altitude of 3 centimeters and a length of 28 
centimeters, a ramp with an altitude of 6 centimeters and a length of 28 
centimeters, a ramp with an altitude of 12 centimeters and a length of 28 
centimeters, masking tape, a smooth flat surface, centimeter tapes or meter 
sticks 

Strategy: 

Place the ramps on the floor or other smooth flat surface.  Place the tapes or 
meter sticks at the end of the ramps.  Place each car at the top of the ramp 
and release it.  Measure the distance the car travels.  Do three trials for 
each of the three ramps.  Record the results.     

Performance Assessment: 

Primary level children: develop a chart that shows each trial run for the car (a 
column for ramp height beside the column for distance traveled), develop a bar 
graph for each ramp to display the results, explain the relationship between the 
altitude of the ramp and the distance traveled by the car, accurately state that 
the unit of measure being used is centimeters.                                   

Intermediate and upper level children: average the results of the three trials, 
interpret the results in terms of the relationship between the slope of the 
angle of the ramps and the distance traveled, develop charts and graphs to 
organize and display the data 

Conclusions:  

The cars released from the ramp with the altitude of 12 centimeters should 
travel the greatest distance.  When the altitude of the ramp is doubled the 
distance traveled should also double demonstrating that there is a direct 
relationship between the altitude of the ramp (potential energy) and distance 
traveled (kinetic energy). 

References:
Physics:Its Methods and Meaning. Alexander Taffel. Allyn and Bacon, 1986. 
Primary Science Curriculum Guide Chicago Board of Education, 1979.