Devon Heath

Students shoot different elastic bands to determine how the k constant influences the amount of elastic energy available. Using calculations, they determine how elastic energy is converted into kinetic energy when an rubber band is shot.

Students will cook potatoes inthree ways; microwaved, fried in a pan, and boiled. Using the power rating of the different appliances used in the cooking, and the time each one took to cook the potatoes, students will determine what method is most efficient (and the most tasty).

Students will bounce a ball and record the bounce to make measurements that can be used to determine how gravitational energy is transformed into other types of energy (kinetic, elastic, and dissipated).

This lab has students find situations in their school that display elastic, gravitational (potential), kinetic, and thermal energy. They assign sizes to some variables, choose the appropriate equation for the situation, and solve for a missing variable.