PhET Simulation: Energy Skate Park

With this PhET Simulation your students will gain a complete understanding of the law of conservation of energy and the relationship between potential, kinetic and total energy as the skater moves along the skate ramp. I have done this activity with my students many times and they always find it fun and engaging. The best part is that your students won’t even know they are learning as they complete the included laboratory assignment sheet.

This inquiry-based lab activity uses the Energy Skate Park: Basics HTML5 simulation from PhET Interactive Simulations. The simulation can be run from most cellphones, tablets and computers. Nothing to download or install. This activity will guide students as they observe how and why the potential, kinetic and total energy of the skater as she moves along the ramp. PhET simulations incorporate research based, student centered activities that are fun and easy to use. All of the PhET simulations are available from their website: PhET Interactive Simulations

This product includes the lab worksheets and answer key in PDF format as well as a Getting Started Teachers Guide.