Description
Potential Energy: Objects Interacting at a Distance. This unit addresses the MS PS3-1 standard Develop a model to describe that when the arrangement of objects interacting at a distance changes, different amounts of potential energy are stored in the system. Students will learn about potential energy, make a model to explain their understanding, and they will ask questions and plan an investigation to explore how potential energy varies as the distance within the system changes.
This resource includes two slide shows, two labs, follow-up pages, and a quiz.
This resource is aligned with the following standards:
NGSS MS PS3-2 Develop a model to describe that when the arrangement of objects interacting at a distance changes, different amounts of potential energy are stored in the system.
Utah SEEd Standard 8.2.2
Ask questions about how the amount of potential energy varies as the distance within the system changes. Plan and conduct an investigation to answer a question about potential energy. Emphasize comparing relative amounts of energy. Examples could include a cart at varying positions on a hill or an object being dropped from different heights. Calculations of kinetic and potential energy will be learned at the high school level. (PS3.A, PS3.B)