72
Lesson 72 of 84 · Energy Transfer
ExperimentPotential Energy: Stored Energy (Part 3)
What You'll Learn
Potential energy is stored energy based on position or condition. A ball at the top of a hill has gravitational potential energy. A stretched rubber band has elastic potential energy.
Key Words
- potential energy
- work
- power
Materials Needed
- spring scale
- stopwatch
- pencils
- toy cars
- ramps
- string
Safety First
- Wear safety goggles when mixing liquids.
Steps
Step 1 — Read
Study the diagram and label the parts you recognize.
Step 2 — Do
Test friction: pull a weighted box across 4 surfaces (carpet, tile, sandpaper, foil). Use a spring scale to measure the force needed for each.
Step 3 — Observe
Use your senses (except taste) to describe what you notice.
Step 4 — Record
Write a summary of your findings in 3-5 sentences.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 3What type of energy does a stretched rubber band have?