Teacher Page IV. Force, Motion and Mechanical Energy C. Interactions of Forces and Motion State Standards 1.6; 1.8; 2.1; 2.3; 2.5; 4.1 7th grade assessment Students should know that mechanical energy comes form the motion (kinetic energy) and/or position (potential energy) of an object. View lesson before using with students. Sample questions and answers appear with mouse click or automatically.

What are the two basic kinds of energy? Kinetic Potential

What is kinetic energy? The energy of motion. Depends on the mass and velocity of an object. Kinetic energy increases as mass increases. Kinetic energy increases when velocity increases.

What is potential energy? Energy that is stored. Energy an object has because of its position or condition. Energy that is associated with objects that can be stretched or compressed. Energy that depends on height.

Have you ever ridden a roller coaster at an amusement park? Hypothesize: Does the speed of a roller coaster depend on how tall the hills are? If so which would give the faster ride - tall hills or lower hills. Write a hypothesis in your science journal.

How would you test your idea? Roll a marble from rest down the groove in a ruler. The marble hits an object which then moves. Vary the height of the top of the ruler. The distance the object moves is a measure of how fast the marble was moving.