Concept
Energy demonstrates how potential energy determines kinetic energy and how this relationship relates to the movement of a car in the Soap Box Derby. Also included in the video is an explanation of Newton's first law of motion.
 
Video Synopsis
Bridget and Austin are on their skateboards when Austin announces that, in school today, he learned he has more potential than Bridget does he'll go farther in the world than she will. To demonstrate his point, he challenges her to a skateboard race. They start at the same time, but Austin crosses the finish line ahead of Bridget. He says this proves he'll always go farther in anything that he does. Bridget is skeptical and thinks something is fishy. They go to Alex's and explain what happened. Alex introduces the concepts of potential and kinetic energy. Alex tells the viewers that Bridget and Austin's race contained too many variables to be valid. Your students are then invited to do some experiments to determine the difference between potential and kinetic energy.

Download the Teacher Guide (PDF file)  Lesson begins on page 95.

Online Activities for Energy