NSCI 120 UMGC Natural Science Questions

Physics, Tables, and Graphing[JS1]

Part 1

Go to

https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/energy-sk…

Play the simulation. Start with the Intro section and click “Pie Chart” in the panel on the right side of the screen. Place the skater on the U-shaped track.

Question 1:

Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. Potential energy is the energy of position. In this case, potential energy is due to gravity. Watch the pie chart above the skater’s head as the skater moves on the track. Where is potential energy the greatest? Where is kinetic energy the greatest? Provide a screenshot of the skater on the track.

Question 2:

Move the friction slider off the “None” value in the panel. Describe what happens to different types of energy over time as the skater moves on the track. How is this different from the zero-friction case? Provide a screenshot of the skater on the track with friction. (10 points)

Move to the Graphs section of the simulation. Place the skater on the W-shaped track and watch the graph.

Question 3:

What are the independent and dependent variables on the graph?

Question 4:

Add some friction. Describe how the various types of energy change over time.

Question 5:

Explain how you have seen an example of conservation of energy. Provide a screenshot of the skater on the W-shaped track.

Part 2

Move to the Measure section of the simulation and put the measuring tool on the track. Set the gravity to “Earth” from the drop-down menu in the panel and the friction to “None”. Put the skater on the track.

Question 6:

Collect measurements of speed and height for at least five different points. Make a table of your data. Make sure your table has a title, column headings, and units (if needed).

Set the Gravity to “Moon”

Question 7:

Collect measurements of speed at the same heights you recorded in Question 6. Start the skater at the same place. (You may find the reference height feature to be very useful.) Take the table from Question 6, copy it, and add the data that you collected for this question.

Question 8:

Make a graph of the data in the table from Question 7 (include all of the data). Make sure that you

choose a good graph type,

correctly identify the dependent and independent variables,

include a title,

include labels and legends as needed, and

include units as needed.

You may find the Excel graphing tools useful.

Question 9:

What conclusions can you draw from your graph? What does it tell you?