Part 1

Directions:
Go to the link and answer the questions below.
Link: http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/energy/Lesson-2/Bar-Chart-Illustrations

1. What does the term Wext

represent in the conservation
of energy equation as its
used throughout the page?
2. In the example of a ball
falling, what would the bar
graphs look like when the
ball is half way to the floor?
Write the equation and draw
the bar graphs.

3. In the section, A different

type of bar chart, they
introduce the idea of Total
Mechanical Energy (TME).
If this quantity does not
change, why put it in the
chart at all? What does it tell
you about the relationship
between kinetic energy and
potential energy?

Part 2
Directions:
Go to the link: https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/energy-skate-park-basics/latest/energy-skatepark-basics_en.html
Click on the level labeled Playground. Experiment with the activity and familiarize yourself
with the tools, then follow and answer the questions below.
1. Construct a track that looks
like the example below. Be
sure to make the track on either
side of the loop the same
height as the loop.
In this configuration, is it
possible for the skater to make
the trip around the loop? If so,
what do the variables must be
changed for this to happen? If
not, why not?

2. Activate the bar graph feature.

There is a quantity called
thermal. What happens to
this quantity as the skater is
moving? What happens to
the other types of energies as
the skater continues? Explain
why these things are
happening to the energy
quantities.
3. Make a parabola shaped track
then set the friction slider to
zero. When you place the
skater on this track, change the
mass slider. Does this
change the amount of total
energy? What happens to the
maximum height of the skater
when you change this?
Explain how this is possible
using the conservation of
energy equation.

Part 3
Directions:
Go to the link: https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/hookes-law/latest/hookes-law_en.html
Click on the level labeled energy. Familiarize yourself with the controls of the game and
prepare to answer the questions below.
1. Click the option called energy
plot and look at the graph as
you move the spring back and
forth. How does this compare
to a potential energy graph of
gravitational potential energy?
In the space on the right,
sketch a graph for both
gravitational potential energy
and spring potential energy.

2. In class we derived a work

function for gravitational
potential energy by relating force
equations to the general work
function. Using the energy plot
any force plots in this link, as well
as the general work function,
derive an expression for the
potential energy of a spring.
(Hint: you may also want to use
the applied force and
displacement options here to
see their directions in relation to
one another.)