Energy Detectives
Name That Energy
Mechanical Energy
Ramp It Up!
Energy Challenge
100
You hear a dog barking from another room. What evidence is tells you energy is present?
Sound
100
A Toaster makes bread hot.
Thermal Energy
100
A tory car is rolling across the floor.
What form of energy is associated with it's motion?
Mechanical Energy
100
Two identical balls start from different heights.
Which starting point will cause greater speed?
The higher position.
100
What do the letters in MELTS mean?
M-Mechanical Energy, E-Electrical Energy, L-Light Energy, S-Sound Energy
200
What evidence shows the MAIN form of energy?
Light
200
A guitar string vibrates and you hear music.
Sound Energy
200
Two identical toy cars roll down identical ramps. Car A moves faster than Car B. Which car shows MORE mechanical energy through it's motion?
Car A
200
A marble doesn't travel far enough after rolling down a ramp.
Choose the best solution:
A. start it lower
B. Make it a different color
C. Start it higher
D. Shorten the Ramp
C. Start it higher.
200
A student says: "I know a speaker has sound energy because I can see it."
What's wrong about the student's answer?
Sound energy is detected by hearing, not sight.
300
You place your hand near a warm lamp and notice heat.
What form of energy are you detecting?
Thermal Energy
300
A Bicycle rolls down the sidewalk.
Mechanical Energy
300
A ball starts at the top of a ramp and rolls downward. What happens to it's speed as it rolls DOWN.
A. It slows down
B. It gets faster
C. It frictions
D. The chicken is late for Thanksgiving
B. It gets faster
300
A toy car must travel through a loop but doesn't have enough speed. What could you change about it's starting position?
Raise it (make it higher)
300
Jamal releases identical cars from two different heights.
Car A starts at 20cm high.
Car B Starts at 40 cm high.
Car B Travels Faster.
What evidence supports the idea that the starting height affected the car's mechanical energy?
The car starting higher traveled farther/moved with great speed.
400
A soccer ball was sitting still. Someone kicks it and it begins moving. What is the evidence that mechanical energy is present?
Motion
400
A machine has a spinning fan and a bright light.
Name two forms of energy you can detect.
Mechanical and Light Energy
400
Two identical balls start on ramps.
Ramp A starts HIGHER (Ball A)
Ramp B starts Lower. (Ball B)
Predict which ball will be moving faster after it rolls down it's ramp.
Ball A
400
A rollercoaster car is at three locations:
A. Top of a large hill
B. Halfway down
C. At the bottom
Where is it moving the fastest?
C. At the bottom
400
A skateboarder starts halfway up a ramp and rolls toward the opposite side but doesn't reach the top.
What change would most likely help the skateboarder travel higher on the other side?
Start higher
500
A toy lights up, plays music, and begins driving across the floor.
Name three forms of energy you can detect?
Light, Sound, and Mechanical Energy
500
A blender is turned on.
You can hear it and see the blades moving.
Which evidence shows mechanical energy?
A. The Sound
B. The moving Blades
C. The color of the blender.
D. The electrical cords
B. The moving blades
500
A toy car doesn't have enough speed to make it over a hill.
A student says: "I'll make the ramp higher and start the car higher".
Explain why that helps and identify the type of energy it needs.
Starting higher gives the car more mechanical energy, which affects the speed and motion.
500
A toy car rolls down the ramp but stops before reaching its targer.
You may change one thing. What would you change and why? (ex. I would change _______ because ________)
Raise the starting height because starting higher gives the car more mechanical energy, allowing it to move faster/farther.
500
A student releases the same toy car from two starting positions.
Trial 1: Low starting point → slower car → travels a short distance
Trial 2: High starting point → faster car → travels farther
What do these results show about mechanical energy and speed? Explain using evidence.
Starting higher gave the car more mechanical energy. The car moved faster and traveled farther when it started higher.