Curated OER
Elastic Racquet
Students discover the science behind a tennis racket by looking at a simple toy that works in a similar way. After looking at the related mathematical equations, students experiment with the simple toy to find the spring constant k by...
Georgia State University
Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Gravitational Potential Energy
This site defines and explains the concept of gravitational potential energy. Uses many equations and graphics to illustrate the idea. Provides an online computational practice set with immediate feedback.
Georgia State University
Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Elastic Potential Energy
This site from Georgia State University Physics Department defines elastic potential energy and explains its origin. Provides an equation for computing elastic potential energy and an opportunity to practice solving problems with an...
University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Masses & Springs
Hang various mass weights on spring scales while you adjust the spring stiffness and damping in this online activity. Slow down the action, take it to another planet, or watch the amount of potential, thermal, and kinetic energy.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Launching a Ping Pong Ball With a Dropper Popper
An activity where students demonstrate elastic potential energy and gravitational potential energy by looking at the travel height of a ping pong when dropped vs a ping pong dropped with a "dropper popper".
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Surface Tension Lab
Students extend their understanding of surface tension by exploring the real-world engineering problem of deciding what makes a "good" soap bubble. Student teams first measure this property, and then use this measurement to determine the...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Energy and the Pogo Stick
This activity utilizes hands on learning with the conservation of energy with the inclusion of elastic potential energy. Students use pogo sticks to experience the elastic potential energy and its conversion to gravitational potential...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Surface Tension Basics
Learners are presented with the question: "Why does a liquid jet break up into droplets?" and introduced to its importance in inkjet printers. A discussion of cohesive forces and surface tension is included, as well as surface acting...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: It's Tiggerific!
In Lesson 3, as part of the Research and Revise step, students investigate potential energy held within springs (elastic potential energy). Class begins with a video of either spring shoes or bungee jumping. Students then move on into...
Georgia State University
Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Potential Energy
This site from Georgia State University Physics Department defines and explains the concept of potential energy. Using equations and graphics to illustrate the idea, it discusses the many types of potential energy (gravitational,...
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Aaas: Project 2061: Energy: Forms, Transformation, Transfer, and Conservation
[Free Registration/Login Required] Create a science test that checks for student understanding in science, for common misconceptions, as well as for correct ideas. This is a list of key ideas related to Energy: Forms, Transformation,...
Other
Bc Open Textbooks: Energy and the Simple Harmonic Oscillator
This resource examines how to determine the maximum speed of an oscillating system. It discusses how the concept of law of energy can be applied in solving these types of problems.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Potential Energy
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] In this online tutorial, students are invited to investigate examples of potential energy and their transformations.
Georgia State University
Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Conservation of Energy
This site is from the Physics Department at Georgia State University. The conservation of energy as a fundamental conservation law is presented and compared to other conservation laws (momentum and angular momentum). Links to further...
Center of Science and Industry
Cosi Columbus: Catapult
Science experiment that demonstrates how energy is transferred. Includes full list of materials, procedures, and scientific explanation of how the tension in the catapult causes an object to travel far.
Museum of Science
Museum of Science and Industry: Online Science: Activities: Make an Egg Bungee
Step-by-step instructions, with photos, of how to prepare an egg for a 'bungee jump' using a plastic bag and elastics, and a yard stick to measure the distance it falls each time it is dropped. The activity investigates the Law of...
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Potential Energy
The concept of potential energy is explained along with the two forms of potential energy: elastic and gravitational. Discusses what gravitational potential energy is, explains the direct relationship between it and mass and height, and...
Georgia State University
Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Energy of Falling Object
This site is from the Physics Department at Georgia State University. The reliance upon the law of conservation of energy as an approach to problem-solving is presented and encouraged. It is modeled through a problem involving a...
Physics Aviary
Physics Aviary: Practice Problems: Distance Traveled (Fired by a Spring)
Students must predict the distance traveled by a box that has been projected horizontally by a compressed spring. The box will start with potential energy due to elasticity and it will turn into KE without loss. It will then lose its...
Science Struck
Science Struck: Potential Energy Formula
Explains what is meant by potential energy and demonstrates how to use the formulas for gravitational potential energy, elastic potential energy, and electric potential energy. Includes interactive calculators for the first two formula...
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Motion of a Mass on a Spring
This tutorial investigates the motion of a mass on a spring and how a variety of quantities change over the course of time. Such quantities will include forces, position, velocity and energy - both kinetic and potential energy. Take the...
BBC
Bbc: Gcse Bitesize: Forces and Elasticity Aqa
This lesson focuses on forces and elasticity. Forces are responsible for changing the motion of objects. If more than one force is present, the shape of an object can also be changed. A link to a test is provided.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Fourth Grade Science: Physical Science: Types of Energy
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Discusses ways in which energy can be transferred, what kinetic energy is and types of potential energy. Includes examples of energy conversions.
MadSci Network
The Mad Scientist Network: Bouncing Rubber Ball
A question and answer format is used to relate elastic potential energy to the bounce of a rubber ball. Explanation of this simple phenomenon is thorough, complete, and free of trite statements.