II. Skate Park Lab Questions:
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Based on the information given in the table, the skateboarder has the greatest potential energy at point A. Explain why. Type Answer HERE: The skateboarder has the greatest potential energy at point A (6m) because potential energy is directly proportional to height. At this highest point, the gravitational potential energy is at its maximum value, which is calculated using the formula PE = mgh (mass x gravitational acceleration x height). The higher the height, the greater the potential energy, thus at 6m, the potential energy is 4,704 Joules.
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At which point in the image, would the skateboarder have the greatest Kinetic Energy & Why? Type Answer HERE: The skateboarder would have the greatest kinetic energy at the lowest point (0m). At this point, all the potential energy has been converted into kinetic energy as the skateboarder descends the ramp. The kinetic energy at this point is 4,704 Joules, which is equal to the potential energy at the highest point, demonstrating the conservation of energy within the system.
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Increase the Mass of the skater to Large by using the slider in the gray box for mass. How does the mass of the skater change the total amount of energy? Type Answer HERE: Increasing the mass of the skater increases both the potential and kinetic energy, as both are directly proportional to mass. For example, with a greater mass, potential energy at a height would increase according to the formula PE = mgh. However, while the total mechanical energy of the system (the sum of potential and kinetic energy) remains constant throughout the skate, it would be at a higher level due to the increased mass. The increased energy can be observed as greater potential energy at higher points and greater kinetic energy at lower points.
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If we could increase the height of the ramp to start at 12 meters. How would this affect the overall Kinetic & Potential Energy of the investigation? Explain why. Type Answer HERE: Increasing the height of the ramp to 12 meters would increase the overall potential energy at the start, calculated using the formula PE = mgh. As the skateboarder descends from this height, potential energy would convert into kinetic energy as they reach lower points on the ramp. At the maximum height (12m), the potential energy would be greater than before, thus providing more energy to convert into kinetic energy, resulting in greater speeds and kinetic energy as the skateboarder descends.
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Now place your skateboarder at the 6 meters mark and let the investigation play out. What happened and why? Type Answer HERE: Upon placing the skateboarder at the 6 meters mark and letting the investigation play out, the skateboarder would descend the ramp, converting the potential energy into kinetic energy. As they move down from 6m to lower heights, their potential energy decreases while their kinetic energy increases correspondingly, illustrating the conservation of energy principle. At 0m, the skateboarder reaches maximum speed and maximum kinetic energy, confirming that energy is transformed from one form to another in a closed system.
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