Lesson 9 of 84 · Forces
Experiment⭐ 30 XP⚡ Spark LabKinetic Energy: Energy in Motion
Kinetic Energy: Energy in Motion.
🎯 Your mission
Predict it first. Then prove yourself right (or wrong).
⚡ The twist
The opposite of what you expect is often what happens.
Mind = Blown
🔥 A bolt of lightning is 5 times hotter than the surface of the sun.
Make a hypothesis first
Predict: what happens if you double the force?
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
- velocity
- force
- Newton
Materials Needed
- pencils
- toy cars
- ramps
- string
Safety First
- Work in a well-ventilated area when using vinegar or other strong-smelling substances.
Steps
Review the background information on Forces before starting.
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.
Watch carefully for any changes and note the time.
Create a data table to organize your measurements.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 3What type of energy does a moving object have?
Where you see this in real life
You use this every time you flip a light switch, ride a bike, or kick a ball.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Time how long a small ball rolls down something, then change the slope and try again.
For the dinner table
“Show me something at home that uses this kind of energy.”
Next Smart Experiment
We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.
Share this experiment
Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.
Checkout complete lesson on Forces for 7th Grade
Get the full Forces track as a printable PDF — all lessons, worksheets, and answer keys.