Take three different sized marbles and set up an incline plane positioned for whatever degree angle desired. Record the angle of the inclined plane. Place a milk carton at the end of the inclined plane. The objective of the demonstration is to give students an opportunity to make an educated guess concerning which marble will move the milk carton the furthest. This is based on both the potential energy of the marble and the kinetic energy of the marble once it is placed in motion rolling down the inclined plane. The student compares the potential and kinetic energy of each marble based on its size. Students can then determine if size affects potential and kinetic energy.
Provide students with an opportunity to brainstorm how to define energy. Take a rubber band and stretch the rubber band. Explain to students that the rubber band has potential energy which is stored and ready to be released. Once the rubber band is released, kinetic energy is released.
Take a 1-meter stick and drop a golf ball from the 100-centimeter mark. The point that the golf ball is held at the 100-centimeter stick is called the point of potential energy. Once the student drops the golf ball, the golf ball demonstrates kinetic energy.
Attach a weight about 3 pounds on the end of a rope. Pull the rope to a desired height. The weight and height represents potential energy. The student can try holding the weight at different heights to either increase or decrease the potential energy. Once the student releases the rope, the student then demonstrates kinetic energy.