Lab 4: Work and Energy Online Version

For this lab, we'll use the online simulation from PhET, Energy Skate Park (https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/energy-skate-park).

Part 1: Qualitative Investigations

1. Investigate what affects the skater's path and describe your investigations. You should try adding some track, changing track shapes, or building jumps. Note: there's no friction on the track.

1. Explain how you could use your investigation to plan a track that is fun, challenging and one that is relatively safe. You might think for example: When does he: fly off an end? make it to the top a hill? or land a jump?

1. Build a good track and sketch it. Then use the Energy Graphs to study the Skater's energy.

• Decide which graphs or chart best helps you understand what makes your track successful.

• Explain why your track is successful in terms of Conservation of Mechanical Energy. Include drawings of the Chart or Graphs to help explain your reasoning.

1. Using the Law of Conservation of Mechanical Energy, explain what things need to be considered when designinganysuccessful track.

Part 2: Quantitative Investigations

1. Josie made africtionlesshot wheel track that looks like the one shown. She placed a red rubber ball on the left top of track at 1. Use the data table below.
   1. Fill in the Prediction column by sketching what you think the Pie chart will look like for the ball at points 1-4.
   2. Use theLoop Trackwith theBallSkater to test your ideas and make any adjustment

Point	Prediction	Simulation	Differences
1
2
3
4

1. Sketch this track and label where the 5 spots could be.

1. He is at his maximum speed
2. He is stopped
3. He is going his average speed
4. He is going slow
5. He is going fast

1. Label where you think the same 5 spots are on the graph to the right.
2. Test your ideas using theDouble Well Roller Coastertrack. Do the guesses line up with this graph? Explain your answer.

1. If a classmate asked you for help making sense of this type of graph, what would you say?