Use the three silver tracks and three pool balls. Begin with two balls at a time and then release all three balls at once. Which ball will reach the end first?
Location: Track - C3-03-4
Balls – C3-03-4
Prep time: none
Release the ball near the top of the track. Theoretically you should be able to release the ball at the same height of the loop. Explain why energy losses make the minimum height necessary to complete the loop significantly higher than the calculated value. Relate to conservation of energy.
Location: Loop- ME1D-56-2
Ball- ME1D-56-2
Prep Time: none
Use the pile driver apparatus. Put a can on the wood block. Drop the driver with one brick and watch the can get crushed. Then either double the height or add the second brick. Watch the can get twice as demolished. Try it again with nails.
Location: Pile driver - ME0G-09-2
Soda cans - C4-04-2
Prep time: none
Take the bowling ball or the pendulum with the ceiling attachment and attach it to the ceiling. Take the pendulum, hold it next to your nose and let go. The pendulum will swing and come back to your nose.
Location: Bowling ball –
ME4A-10-1
Pendulum with ceiling attachment - C4-05-1
Prep Time: 5 minutes. Don’t forget a stepladder if the room requires one.
Use this jet to demonstrate conservation of energy. The energy is transferred from the spring to the jet.
Location: Jet - ME2B-12-2
Gun - ME2B-12-2
Prep Time: none
Take the gun and put a propeller on the end. Twist the propeller no more than three of four times. Release the trigger and watch the propeller fly off.
Location: Propeller gun - ME2B-11-1
Prep Time: none
To demonstrate how energy can be stored and transformed, use this toy. The car has a flywheel geared to the front wheels that lies in the plane of the long axis of the car. As you run the car over the table you will set the flywheel in motion. Now place the car on a smooth surface and it will take off. This car can be used on a flat surface or slight incline.
Location: Car -
ME2B-63-1
Incline – ME0G-30-8
Prep time: none
