Name:______#______Date______Hour______

5/6 Exploring Kinetic Energy

Guiding Question:How does the mass and velocity of a moving object affect its kinetic energy?

Storyline:As a NASA engineer, you are designing transport vehicles to be used in future interplanetary missions. The transport vehicle will be traveling very fast when it hits the surface of the planet. As we design our vehicle, we must consider:

  • How much energy will be transferred to the vehicle at impact?
  • How does it change with the size and speed of the lander?
  • Which is the more IMPORTANT factor?
  • Should we focus on making our vehicle LIGHTER or worrying about its VELOCITY?

In physics, KINETIC ENERGY is the energy an object has because of its motion. Kinetic energy is also a measure of how much change an object can cause.

  • alarger moving object will do more damage (cause more change) than a smaller moving object.
  • a faster moving object will do more damage (cause more change) than a slower moving object

Task 1: Rollercoaster Simulator

1. You will get one computer for your group and sign in. You will then go to my blog and follow the link that will lead you to the rollercoaster simulator.

2. Click on the “step” button to display the different positions on the track.

3. Think back to the video and make predictions:

A. Which position do you think will have the greatest kinetic energy, or will be traveling the fastest?

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B. Which position do you think will have the least kinetic energy, or will be traveling the slowest?

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4. Explore the simulator and make observations.

5. At position 2, will the riders give the car more kinetic energy or less?______

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Return the computer to the cart.

Task 2: Graphing Data

Below you will find some experimental data that our NASA research scientists determined for the KINETIC ENERGY (measured in kilojoules (kJ) = 1000 Joules) of the impact of our lander.

  1. You are graphing MASS vs KINETIC ENERGY and VELOCITY vs KINETIC ENERGY.
  2. Draw and label the axes for your data on the given graph paper.
  3. Label your axes with a proper scale so that your data will fill the graph.
  4. Plot the points on your own paper.
  5. Connect the dots to see the relationship.
  6. When you are finished, compare your two graphs to answer the “data match” and analysis questions.

MASS vs KINETIC ENERGY Data Chart

MASS (kg)
experimental lander velocity = 50 m/s
(about 100 mph) / Energy (kJ)
200 kg / 250 kJ
400 kg / 500 kJ
600 kg / 750 kJ
800 kg / 1,000 kJ
1000 kg / 1,250 kJ
1200 kg / 1,500 kJ
1400 kg / 1,750 kJ
1600 kg / 2,000 kJ

VELOCITY vs KINETIC ENERGY Data Chart

VELOCITY (m/s)
experimental lander mass = 1000 kg
(about 2200 lbs) / Energy (kJ)
10 m/s / 50 kJ
20 m/s / 200 kJ
30 m/s / 450 kJ
40 m/s / 800 kJ
50 m/s / 1,250 kJ
60 m/s / 1,800 kJ
70 m/s / 2,450 kJ
80 kg / 3,200 kJ

Task 3: Data Analysis (To be done AFTER graphing)

DATA MATCH: Check off all the statements that agree with the graphs you made:

_____Kinetic energy increases when mass increases.

_____Kinetic energy decreases when speed increases.

_____A small object (small mass) can have the same kinetic energy as a large object (large mass) IF its velocity is large enough

_____The shape of the MASS vs ENERGY graph has a NON-LINEAR RELATIONSHIP.

_____The VELOCITY vs ENERGY graph shows a NON-LINEAR RELATIONSHIP.

_____An increase in velocity of 100 m/s leads to a LARGER increase in kinetic energy than an increase of 100 kg

QUESTIONS: Answer in complete sentences below.

1. What happens to the kinetic energy when you increase the mass? ______

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2. What happens to the kinetic energy when you increase the speed?______

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3. How can a small object (small mass) have the same energy as a large object (large mass)?______

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4a. What is the shape of the MASS vs ENERGY graph?______

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4b. Is it a LINEAR RELATIONSHIP?______

4c. What happens when you DOUBLE the mass?______

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5a. What is the shape of the VELOCITY vs ENERGY graph? ______

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5b. Is it a LINEAR RELATIONSHIP?______

5c. What happens when you DOUBLE the velocity?______

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6. Which makes a bigger difference: a 100 kg increase in the mass or a 100 meter/sec rise in velocity?

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DESIGN DISCUSSION

1. The next task will be to design an egg drop landing device. This will be different from the egg drop landing pad because your device will aid the egg as it descends to the bare ground. Based on your graphs, discuss the attributes of your future egg drop lander that should be considered in the design; should you consider mass of your lander? or velocity of impact? Use specific evidence from the data to support your claims below:

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