Energy can be described as being in different "stores". It cannot be created or destroyed but it can be transferred, dissipated or stored in different ways. There are seven main stores of energy: magnetic, internal (thermal), chemical,...

Students learn how laser communication systems are built by observing how sound can be encoded into, and transmitted by a light beam.

In this module Activity 4 investigates How are bonds formed and broken? This activity explores the relationship between energy and the formation and breaking bonds, using the ideas of energy transfer and conversion.

This lesson focuses on Exothermic and Endothermic Reactions. Exothermic reactions transfer energy to the surroundings. Endothermic reactions take in energy from the surroundings. It provides links to a video and a test.

Students explore connections between electric forces and molecules using simulations, and explain energy transfers using conservation of energy. This concept will be explored in the following activities. Activity 1 What makes materials...

In this 3-5 teaching module, students conduct experiments, explore with online interactives, and watch videos that help them understand how vehicles work. Then, students demonstrate their understanding by designing energy efficient...

Students define potential energy and explore the relationship between potential energy and field. How does potential energy change when things are pushed or pulled? Where does the energy that was used to charge the Van de Graaff...

In this module Activity 3 investigates What changes in energy occur when atoms rearrange during a chemical reaction? This activity explores the relationship between energy and chemical reactions. A bonus reading includes Energy and...

A virtual lab to look at the physical features of Earth that affect the amount of the Sun's energy that hits Earth. Students investigate how solar and infrared radiations enters and leaves the atmosphere with this model. Virtual lab...

Activity 1 of this module investigates: How does potential energy change when things are pushed or pulled? Exploring how force is related to potential energy, this activity investigates how potential energy is changed when a spring is...

An investigation of what happens to energy during changes.

Activity 4 in the module investigates If energy cannot go away, why don't things move forever? Conservation of energy is examined. A reading activity, Energy Conservation, is included in this activity.

Students construct a model of chemical reactions involving energy and electrostatic interactions and compare reactions and changes in energy through the following activities. Activity 1 What energy changes occur during an explosion?...

Use the sun's energy to cook an egg? Design, build and test a solar oven. Activity gives a procedure to build oven as well as questions to answer. Questions can be saved and graded by instructor.

This engaging activity introduces students to the concept of albedo and how it relates to Earth's energy balance. They measure the albedo using maps, data tables, and a shaker filled with popcorn kernels. Then, they estimate the Earth's...

In this module Activity 3 investigates When atoms get close to each other, what happens to their potential energy? This activity applies energy concepts to compare the potential energy of atoms that are bonded as molecules with the...

In Activity 1 investigates How are water and other liquids similar and different? The student will see if ideas involving energy, electrostatic interactions, and atomic structure, can be used to explain why a hurricane is so powerful.

Activity 2 of the module investigates Where does the energy used to charge the Van de Graaff generator go? The activity investigates how objects can interact without touching, as well as what happens to potential energy when objects...

Activity 3 of this module investigates If moving objects have kinetic energy, do moving atoms have kinetic energy? This activity looks at how energy is related to movement of atoms.

In this Activity 1 investigates What makes materials different from each other? Students will continue to learn about energy and to investigate how energy changes relate to changes in matter. Students will also explore what makes...

Explains what mechanical energy is and provides 22 examples of it.

In this investigation students will add energy to the model of how molecules interact by completing the following activities. Activity 1 What does boiling do to water molecules? Activity 2 How hot can water go? Activity 3 How does energy...

Activity 3 investigates Why is lightning so much bigger that a spark from the Van de Graff generator? In Activity 3 of this module, students investigate factors that affect the amount of potential energy that is stored.

In this module Activity 1 investigates What energy changes occur during an explosion? Students make observations of exploding balloons and a simulation, and ask questions about what occurs during an explosion, setting the scene for more...