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Name:&KEY!
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Energy'Skate'Park'Basics'PhET'Activity'
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1.&Explore&the&simulation.&&
Question:&What&can&you&change&about&the&simulation?&
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You&can&make&the&simulation&go&in&slow&motion.&You&can&display&different&things&(speed,&bar&graph,&grid,&etc.).&
You&can&reset&the&simulation&and&pause&it.&&
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2.'Investigate&how&the&potential&and&kinetic&energy&of&the&skater&change&as&the&skater&&&moves&from&the&top&of&
the&ramp&to&the&bottom.&&
Fill&in&the&blanks&based&on&your&observations:&&
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3.&Explore&how&the&potential&and&kinetic&energy&change&as&the&height&of&the&skateboarder&changes.&Fill&in&the&
table&based&on&your&observations.&&
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Height'of'Skater'(m)'
What'is'greater?'(circle'your'answer)'
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Kinetic&Energy&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&Potential&Energy&
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Kinetic&Energy&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&Potential&Energy&
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Kinetic&Energy&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&Potential&Energy&
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Kinetic&Energy&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&Potential&Energy&
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Question:'What&conclusions&can&you&make&about&how&the&height&of&the&skater&influences&the&potential&energy&
of&the&skater?&&
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The&higher&the&skater&is&the&more&potential&energy&he&has.&As&his&height&decreases,&his&potential&energy&
decreases&and&his&kinetic&energy&increases.&&
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4.&Explore&how&the&skater’s&change&in&speed&relates&to&the&potential&and&kinetic&energy&of&the&skater.&Fill&in&the&
table&based&on&your&observations.&&
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Review:''(fill'in'the'blanks)''
Potential&Energy&is&the&energy&stored&in&an&object&because&of&its&position.&
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Kinetic&Energy&is&the&energy&of&motion.&&&
As&the&skateboard&rolls&down&the&ramp&it&loses&potential&energy&and&gains&&
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kinetic&energy.&The&total&energy&of&the&skateboarder&remains&constant.&&
