Unit Plan
Vision Learning

Visionlearning: Mechanics: Energy

For Students 9th - 10th
Definitions of various forms of energy are presented along with a brief scientific history of energy related concepts.
Handout
eSchool Today

E School Today: Mechanical Energy

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn about mechanical energy, and its forms of potential and kinetic.
Unit Plan
Sophia Learning

Sophia: Mechanical Energy

For Students 9th - 10th
Understand when objects have mechanical energy with this video lesson. Also learn the difference between potential and kinetic energy. The video also discusses the factors that influence both potential and kinetic energy using examples....
Unit Plan
Texas Education Agency

Texas Gateway: Ap Physics: Conservative Forces and Potential Energy

For Students 11th - 12th
By the end of this section, you will be able to define conservative force, potential energy, and mechanical energy; explain the potential energy of a spring in terms of its compression when Hooke's law applies; and use the work-energy...
Unit Plan
OpenStax

Open Stax: Potential Energy and Conservative Forces

For Students 9th - 10th
In the following interactive students will define conservative force, potential energy, and mechanical energy. They will explain the potential energy of a spring in terms of its compression when Hooke's Law applies. Students will also...
Unit Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Energy of Motion

For Teachers 6th - 8th
By taking a look at the energy of motion all around us, students learn about the types of energy and their characteristics. They first learn about the two simplest forms of mechanical energy: kinetic and potential energy, as illustrated...
Unit Plan
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: The Work Energy Theorem

For Students 9th - 10th
This page explores the quantitative relationship between work and mechanical energy in situations in which there are no external forces doing work. It is a basic analysis of situations in which mechanical energy is conserved. Examples...
eBook
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Energy Relationships for Satellites

For Students 9th - 10th
The orbits of satellites are described and an energy analysis is performed. Kinetic, potential and total mechanical energy are explained and applied to the motion of satellites.
Interactive
University of Colorado

University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Energy Skate Park

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore kinetic, potential, and thermal energy as you send a skateboarder along several pre-built tracks, then design your own. Charts and graphs show the distribution of the different forms of energy, illustrating how the total energy...
Unit Plan
eSchool Today

E School Today: Energy

For Students 4th - 8th
Explains different kinds of energy, covering kinetic, potential, gravitational, mechanical, sound, thermal, chemical, electrical, and radiant energy. Also looks at storage, transfer, and dissipation of energy. Includes a short...
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Kinetic and Potential Energy of Motion

For Teachers 7th - 9th
In this lesson plan, students are introduced to both potential energy and kinetic energy as forms of mechanical energy. A hands-on activity demonstrates how potential energy can change into kinetic energy by swinging a pendulum,...
Handout
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Potential Energy

For Students 9th - 10th
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,...
Handout
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Gravitational Potential Energy

For Students 11th - 12th
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.
Handout
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Elastic Potential Energy

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Forms of Energy

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] In this online lesson students will investigate examples of kinetic and potential energy and their transformations.
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Put Your Water to Work: Using Hydropower to Lift a Load

For Students 3rd - 8th
Water creates a lot of energy, just look at the Grand Canyon. In this science fair project, you will demonstrate the power of water by converting the kinetic energy in moving water to mechanical energy, which will lift a small weight.
Website
Canada Science and Technology Museum

Canada Science and Technology Museum: Background Information for Energy

For Students 9th - 10th
Energy! What do you know about it? Use this terrific site to find out everything about it through a series of Q&As. Educators will find useful lesson plans at the related Teacher's site.
Handout
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Kinetic Energy

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from Georgia State University Physics Department defines kinetic energy and compares and contrasts it with other forms of energy. Provides an equation and links to further, more-detailed information.
Unit Plan
Texas Education Agency

Texas Gateway: Nonconservative Forces

For Students 11th - 12th
By the end of this section, you will be able to define nonconservative forces and explain how they affect mechanical energy, and to show how the principle of conservation of energy can be applied by treating the conservative forces in...
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Student Analysis of a Person Jumping on a Trampoline

For Teachers 9th - 10th
For this activity, students learn about conservation of mechanical energy as they measure the velocity of a girl jumping on a trampoline using a direct measurement video with an embedded frame counter and ruler.
eBook
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Work and Energy: Energy Transformation on Roller Coasters

For Students 9th - 10th
Using a roller coaster as an example, the transformation of mechanical energy from the form of potential to the form of kinetic and vice versa is explained and illustrated in the animation.
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Move It!

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Mechanical energy is the most easily understood form of energy for students. When there is mechanical energy involved, something moves. Mechanical energy is a very important concept to understand. Engineers need to know what happens when...
Unit Plan
OpenStax

Open Stax: Nonconservative Forces

For Students 9th - 10th
In the following interactive students will begin to define nonconservative forces and explain how they affect mechanical energy. They will show how the principle of conservation of energy can be applied by treating the conservative...
Unit Plan
Texas Education Agency

Texas Gateway: Kinetic and Potential Energy

For Students 9th - 10th
Given diagrams, illustrations or relevant data, students will identify examples of kinetic and potential energy and their transformations.