Learned it in a Lab
How do roller coaster engineers make roller coasters go faster (without adding a bigger motor)?
They make the roller coaster taller so it has more gravitational potential energy that will turn into kinetic energy during the ride.
What energy transformation happens when a blender is mixing a smoothie? (_______ --> ________ & ________)
electrical energy --> motion & sound energy
What 2 kinds of simple machines help a pair of scissors cut things more easily?
Wedges break paper apart & Levers reduce the force needed to push the wedges in.
What did Rube Goldberg study in college?
Engineering
When you drop a golf ball with a ping-pong ball resting on top of it to the floor, both balls have motion energy as they fall. When the golf ball hits the floor, it transfers most of its motion energy to the ping pong ball, which flies all the way up to the ceiling. Almost all of the motion energy from before the collision is still motion energy after the collision, but since some of it turns into a loud sound, this is an example of an __________ collision.
Inelastic
A kid is jumping on a trampoline. For the split second when the trampoline is most stretched out and they are at their lowest point, before they bounce upwards, what kind of energy do they have?
Elastic potential energy
What kind of energy transformation is happening when you watch TV?
________ --> ________ & ________
electrical energy --> radiant energy & sound energy
What 3 simple machines does a pizza cutter use to cut pizza more easily?
Wedge separates pizza crust using less force; Lever lets you use blade with less force; Wheel & Axle lets you move blade through pizza with less friction
What did Rube Goldberg do (for a job) before becoming a cartoonist?
Designing sewers for the city of San Francisco
What happens to a glow stick when you put it in ice cold water? Why?
It gets dimmer because the cold water removes thermal energy, so there is less energy in the glow stick.
At which point on the roller coaster would you have the most kinetic energy? (see picture)
B (because it is the lowest point, so it has the least GPE and the most kinetic energy)
What kind of energy transformation is happening in a campfire?
________ --> __________, __________, & ________
chemical energy (in the firewood) --> radiant energy (the fire's light), thermal energy (the fire's heat), and sound energy (the crackling fire)
What special version of a simple machine makes it easier to ride a bicycle uphill and downhill?
Different sized gears (a special wheel and axle) change the speed that the wheels turn when you peddle or the amount of resistance there is when you peddle.
What simple machines does Rube Goldberg use in his "windshield wiper" invention? (hint: check steps D, I, and L) (see picture)
the fan is a WHEEL AND AXLE, the board is a LEVER, and the wheel and string are a PULLEY
When we created marble roller coasters, the "drop height" required for the marble to go over a hill is much taller than the hill is. Why?
As the gravitational potential energy is turned into motion energy in the marble, FRICTION BETWEEN THE MARBLE AND THE TRACK turns some of the MOTION ENERGY into THERMAL ENERGY, which leaves the roller coaster so it cannot turn back into GPE again.
Are most collisions between moving objects "elastic" or "inelastic"?
Most collisions are inelastic because some kinetic energy is transformed to other types like sound or thermal energy.
What kind of energy transformation is happening when a flashlight turns on? (________ --> ________ --> ________)
*Start with the battery
chemical energy --> electrical energy --> radiant energy
What 3 simple machines help a tow truck move cars that can't drive?
Wheel and Axle helps heavy truck move to where cars are; Inclined Plane reduces the force needed to lift the cars; Pulley also reduces the force needed to lift the cars
What forces does Rube Goldberg use in steps K, M, and N of his Windshield Wiper invention? (see picture)
the MAGNET pulls the metal in K, the STRING pulls the box door in M, and GRAVITY pulls the bone in N
The products of some chemical reactions, like Elephant Toothpaste, are warmer than the reactants (ingredients). What do we call these types of reactions?
Exothermic Reactions (they turn chemical potential energy into thermal energy and release it)
Name all 8 types of potential and kinetic energy
Gravitational Potential Energy; Elastic Potential Energy; Chemical Potential Energy; Motion; Sound; Radiant; Thermal & Electrical Energy
What kind of energy transformation is happening when a car is driving down the highway? (________ --> ________ & ________, _________, _________, & ________)
chemical energy --> motion energy & sound, thermal, electrical & radiant energy
Name all 5 simple machines and what they are used for.
Wedge - separates objects that are stuck together Wheel & Axle - allows objects to move with less friction Lever - raises or lowers objects using less force Pulley - changes the direction of force used to lift a heavy object Inclined Plane - allows objects to move up or down using less force
What energy transformation happens in step L in Rube Goldberg's "Self-Opening Umbrella" cartoon? (see picture)
Elastic potential energy (in the spring) --> motion (of the "Jack in the box")