Kinetic Energy: Energy in Motion

What You'll Learn

Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. A moving car, a rolling ball, and a flying bird all have kinetic energy. The faster an object moves, the more kinetic energy it has.

Key Words

potential energy
work
power

Materials Needed

string
weights
tape
ruler

Safety First

Tie back long hair before starting the experiment.
Protect your work surface with newspaper or plastic.
Adult supervision recommended.

Steps

Step 1 — Read

Review the background information on Energy before starting.

Step 2 — Do

Build a simple circuit using a battery, wire, and light bulb. Then add a switch and test what happens when you open and close it.

Step 3 — Observe

Watch carefully for any changes and note the time.

Step 4 — Record

Create a data table to organize your measurements.

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 3

What type of energy does a moving object have?