1. Lesson Objective:
You will be able to analyze scenarios to explain the transformation of potential to kinetic energy and vice-versa.

2. Kingda Ka Rollercoaster, New Jersey
Current tallest and fastest rollercoaster on Earth!
128 mph
456 ft
"Kingda Ka" by Dusso Janladde - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons -

3. The 456 foot drop twists and turns the entire way down!

4. A rollercoaster is currently being built in Orlando, Florida and when finished, will be the tallest in the world!
500 feet tall!

5. Lets’ check it out! The worlds tallest roller coaster
If this embedded video does not load, the link is

6. Which rollercoaster do you think would go faster? Why?
290 feet
150 feet
I ask students which rollercoaster would go faster based on the heights of the rollercoasters. This is to activate prior knowledge on the variables that effect potential energy.

7. Potential Energy
The higher an object is, the more potential energy the object has.
I have more potential energy!
ADD TO NOTES UNDER POTENTIAL ENERGY

8. Order the colored stars from MOST potential energy to LEAST potential energy.
"Nitro coaster" by Dusso Janladde - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons -

9. Which would you rather have drop on your head from this building? Why?
I asked students if they would rather have a bowling ball drop on their head or a feather from a tall building. This leads into a discussion on how mass effects potential energy.

10. Potential Energy
The greater the mass of an object, the more potential energy it has.
ADD UNDER POTENTIAL SIDE

11. Which person do you think has more kinetic energy? Why?
125 pounds
145 pounds
Here I ask which snowboarder they think has more kinetic energy based on the mass of each person.

12. Kinetic Energy
The greater the mass, the more kinetic energy an object has.
I have more kinetic energy!
125 pounds
145 pounds
ADD TO NOTES-KINETIC

13. Which person do you think has more kinetic energy? Why?
42 mph
35 mph
Here I ask which snowboarder they think has more kinetic energy based on the speed of each person.

14. Kinetic Energy
The greater the speed, the more kinetic energy an object has.
ADD TO KINETIC

15. Which object has more potential energy? Why?

16. I have more potential energy because I have a greater height!

17. Object A and B both have a mass of 500 grams
Object A and B both have a mass of 500 grams. A is moving at a speed of 50 mph and B is moving at a speed of 55 mph. Which one has more kinetic energy? A = B = 2

18. Object A and B are both traveling at 100 mph
Object A and B are both traveling at 100 mph. Object A has a mass of 75 grams and object B has a mass of 80 grams. Which one has more kinetic energy? A = B = 2

19. Can an object have both potential and kinetic energy?

20. 5. Maximum PE 1. Maximum PE 4. KE transforming into PE
2. PE transforming into KE
3. Maximum KE

21. EXIT TICKET