6G – Upper School Science – Kinetic and Potential Energy
During this middle school Core Experience Learning Lab (CELL) students began by experimenting with kinetic energy, the energy of motion, and observing the effects of velocity on kinetic energy. Potential energy was introduced, along with the equation for gravitational potential energy. Students examined the effect of height on potential energy and observed the conversion of potential to kinetic energy.
The conversion of potential to kinetic energy was further examined through the conversion of electrical potential energy to thermal and light energy, both kinetic. Finally, students explored chemical potential energy and its conversion to elastic kinetic via chemical reactions.