MS-PS3-1 ENERGY

OKLAHOMA ACADEMIC STANDARD FOR SCIENCE:
MS-PS3-1 ENERGY
6TH GRADE
OBJECTIVE:
Students who demonstrate understanding will be able to relate an object’s kinetic energy to its mass and speed
graphically. They will be able to interpret the cause and effect of the independent variables (mass and speed) to the
dependent variable (kinetic energy).
DEFINITIONS OF ENERGY:
Kinetic Energy is the mechanical energy of an object associated with the object’s motion. Kinetic energy is directly
proportional to the object’s mass and grows with the square of its speed.
CLARIFICATION STATEMENT:
Emphasis is on descriptive relationships between kinetic energy and mass separately from kinetic energy and speed.
Examples could include riding a bicycle at different speeds, rolling different sizes of rocks downhill, and getting hit by a
wiffle ball versus a tennis ball.
ASSESSMENT BOUNDARY:
Assessment does not include mathematical calculations of kinetic energy.
MATERIALS REQUIRED:
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Gravitate Kit
o 2 rubber hoses
o Braces
o Legs
Measuring Tape
Balls of varying sizes and weights
Scale (for weighing balls)
Stopwatch
PREPARATION:
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Set up the track.
Measure and record the length L. _____m
Measure and record the height H. _____m
Measure and record the mass of the ball(s). _____kg
MS-PS3-1: Energy
PROCEDURE:
Create a graph showing speed as the ratio of distance traveled to time taken.
1. Record the weight of the ball in table on the next page.
2. Place the ball at the top of the track and start the stopwatch as you release it. If the top of the track is flat, you
may need to give it a gentle push.
3. Measure and record the distance (d) the ball travels.
4. Record the time on the stopwatch (t) when the ball stopped.
5. Calculate the ratio of distance (d) to time (t) for each ball.
6. Repeat steps 1 through 5 with balls of differing weights.
a. Ask the students to make observations based on the data in the table.
b. How does the distance the ball travels compare to the weight of the ball?
c. How does the time it takes for the ball to complete the course compare to the weight of the ball?
d. Do the distance to time ratios support their observations?
Assess: Ask questions to help the students identify proportional relationships between the data elements.
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MS-PS3-1: Energy
Mass of Ball (kg)
Distance Traveled (m)
Time Taken (s)
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Ratio of Distance to Time