Calculating Elastic Potential Energy by SciencEd

Welcome to SciencEd: Science Resources for teachers!

This resource is fully differentiated resource that includes answers for teaching students to calculate the elastic potential energy stored in a spring. The lesson is split into 3 chunks to make sure that you meet the needs of your students when delivering the new GCSE Physics and Combined Science: Physics courses.

Are your students aiming towards a grade 5? This resource aims to get your students to:
*Identify the changes in energy when a spring is released
*Describe how the energy stored in a spring depends on the spring constant and the extension or compression

Are your students aiming for a grade 5? Get your students to:
*Explain how the energy stored in a spring can be used to propel objects.

Are your students aiming above a grade 5? Stretch them to:
*Apply your understanding of the energy in a spring to explain how much energy is stored in a spring.
*Link ideas of energy stored in a spring and GPE to find out how high a spring can propel an object.

This resource includes little extras to help challenge all of your students.
*On your toes boxes -
Prepare students for feedback by putting their name into the orange boxes on screen.
* Self assessment opportunities -
Reduce your workload by getting students to self assess their work by using the green boxes and answers on screen.
* Stretch your most able -
Stretch yourself! opportunities placed throughout the lesson to get your most able to think about their answers and the applications of science.