Curated and Reviewed by
Lesson Planet
This Energy of a Spring interactive also includes:
Spring has sprung! Young physicists explore the properties of springs with a simple simulator. Users control the initial position of the spring, then observe the potential, kinetic, and thermal energies in the system.
4 Views
6 Downloads
NGSS:
Adaptable
Concepts
Additional Tags
Instructional Ideas
- Ask pupils to create a hypothesis that explains why thermal energy increases throughout the simulation, then becomes equal to the total energy in the system
- Have the class record observations of the kinetic and potential energies with the spring in different positions
Classroom Considerations
- It is helpful to discuss the energies involved in a spring's movement before beginning the activity
Pros
- The resource is easy to use and interpret
- Spring operates in a realistic manner when extended to different starting positions
Cons
- None