STATION 1: Potential & Kinetic Energy

Part I. Identify the energy in each statement as kinetic OR potential.

1) A mouse running away from a cat.

2) A rock sitting on top of a hill.

3) A bird resting on its nest in a tree.

4) A car driving down Winchester Rd.

5) A bowling ball rolling down the lane.

Part II. Use the words kinetic OR potential to fill in the blanks below.

When a pecan pie is resting on a windowsill, all of its energy is (a) _____________________ energy; it
has no (b) ________________ energy because it is not moving. However, accidentally, the pecan pie was
pushed off the windowsill and is falling through the air. At that time, the amount of
(c)__________________ energy is decreasing while the amount of (d) ___________________ energy is
increasing as the pecan pie picks up speed. Right before the pecan pie hits the ground, all of its energy is
in (e)___________________ energy. It does not have any (f) ___________________ energy because the
pecan pie does not have any height above the ground.

Part III. Remember that kinetic energy depends on mass and speed

* Remember that mass depends on the weight of an object and also how big it is

1) A bowling ball and a soccer ball are both rolling at the same speed. Which has more kinetic energy?

2) A rock and a feather are dropped from the top of a building. Which has more kinetic energy?

3) The same baseball is thrown two different times. The second throw is faster than the first throw.
Which has more kinetic energy?

Part V. Remember that gravitational potential energy depends on mass/weight and height.

1) A heavy textbook and your HOOT book sit on the edge of your desk. Which has more gravitational
potential energy?

2) An apple hangs from the lowermost branch on a tree. Another apple hangs from the top. Which has
more gravitational potential energy?

3) A small rubber bouncy ball and a bowling ball are about to be dropped from the same height. Which
has more gravitational potential energy?
 STATION 2: Forms of Energy
Part I. Identify the energy in each statement as kinetic OR potential.

1. What is energy? What does the law of conservation of energy state?

2. What are the different forms of energy illustrated in each of the pictures below? There may be more

Use the words mechanical

than one form of energy illustrated in each picture.

energy, chemical energy, nuclear energy, sound energy, thermal

(heat) energy, radiant (light) energy, Electrical energy

(a) (b)

(c) (d) (e)

(f) (g) (h)

 STATION 3: Energy Transformation
Part 1: Study the pictures below and state the energy conversions that are taking place.

1) Windmill 2) Flashlight
Energy Transformation: Energy Transformation:

3) Microwave 4) Firecracker

Energy Transformation: Energy Transformation:

5) Bicycle 6) Battery

Energy Transformation: Energy Transformation:

Part 2: Give an example where the following energy changes would take place:

7) Electrical to Thermal-

8) Chemical to Thermal-

9) Electrical to Mechanical-

10) Radiant to Chemical-

STATION 4: Electromagnetic Spectrum

1. In each of the following pairs, write the form of radiation with the LONGER WAVELENGTH:

a. red light or blue light

b. microwaves or radiowaves

c. infrared radiation or red light

d. gamma rays or UV radiation

2. In each of the following pairs, write the form of radiation with the GREATER FREQUENCY:

a. yellow light or green light

b. x-rays or gamma rays

c. UV radiation or violet light

d. AM radio waves or FM radio waves

3. In each of the following pairs, write the form of radiation with the LOWER ENERGY:

a. red light or blue light

b. microwaves or radiowaves

c. infrared radiation or red light

d. gamma rays or UV radiation

e. yellow light or green light

f. x-rays or gamma rays

g. UV radiation or violet light

h. AM radio waves or FM radio waves

Part 4: Answer the following questions

1. _______________ waves are used to penetrate solids and are used in doctors offices and as airports.

2. _______________ waves have a color spectrum known as ROYGBIV.

3. _______________ waves are high energy & generated by radioactive atoms & in nuclear explosions.

4. _______________ waves are often used in heat lamps and to help see in the dark.

5. _______________ waves are utilized by insects to locate nectar as well as to help us get tanned.
 STATION 5: Renewable &
Nonrenewable Energy
Part 1: Complete the table by placing a check mark in the appropriate column for each source of
energy

Source of Fossil Fuel Renewable Nonrenewable

energy
1. Petroleum or
oil
2. Biomass
3. Solar
4. Coal
5. Wind
6. Geothermal
7. Uranium
Nucleus
8. Hydropower
9. Natural Gas

Part 2: Answer the following questions

1. What does it mean when an energy resource is said to be renewable?

2. What does it mean when an energy resource is said to be non-renewable.

Geothermal power,
Hydropower; 7% solar power,wind
Nuclear power; 20% power, biomass; 2%
Petroleum; 3% Coal; 52%
Natural gas; 16%
3. According to the chart above, what percentage of US energy is produced by all of the nonrenewable
sources, combined? Show your calculations

4. (a) What energy resource is most commonly used to make electricity? (b) Is this energy resource
renewable or non-renewable?

5. What could you do to reduce the amount of gas burned (and therefore the amount of air pollution
created) to get you from place to place?