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Science Launch G4 / Week 01 / Monday
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Week 01 · Speed and Energy

Monday

Energy is on the move
// Faster things carry more energy
⏱ about 15 min

Monday: Energy is on the move

Rocket rolls a red ball down the hallway toward ten plastic cups. It wobbles, taps one cup, and stops.

"Let me try again," he says. This time he rolls it hard. Cups fly in every direction!

Raven kneels by the scattered cups. "Same ball, same cups," she says. "What do you notice about the two rolls?"

Nova hovers over the mess, her eyes glowing cyan. "Interesting," she says. "Something changed between roll one and roll two. Can you name it?"

What is energy?

Energy is what it takes to make something move, light up, warm up or make a sound.

Scientists say energy is present whenever there are moving objects, sound, light or heat.

A rolling ball has energy because it is moving. We call this motion energy.

  • A kicked soccer ball has motion energy.
  • A swinging door has motion energy.
  • A leaf blowing across the yard has motion energy.
  • A book sitting still on a shelf is not moving, so it shows no motion energy.
ThingShows motion energy right now?
A ball rolling across the floor?
A pencil lying still on a desk?
A spinning fan blade?
A parked bike with no one on it?
A kite swooping in the wind?
WHY THIS EXERCISEMotion energy belongs to things that are moving. Still things show none.
SPOT THE ENERGY
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Which one shows motion energy?
In the story, what changed between Rocket's two rolls?
Try it
Look around the room for one minute.
Find three things that are moving.
Each one has motion energy.

Energy shows up in many ways

Motion is only one way to spot energy.

A glowing lamp gives off light. A ringing bell makes sound. A warm stove gives off heat.

Scientists say energy is present whenever there are moving objects, sound, light or heat.

So when you see motion, hear sound, see light or feel heat, energy is there.

WHERE IS THE ENERGY?
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
A drum makes a loud boom. Which sign of energy is that?
A flashlight beam shines on the wall. Which sign of energy is that?
A shoe sits still under the bed. Does it show motion energy right now?
The energy of a moving object is called ____ energy.
A ringing bell shows energy as ____.
A hot stove shows energy as ____.
ROCKET'S TWO ROLLS, IN ORDER
  • ?Rocket rolls the ball gently.
  • ?The ball taps one cup and stops.
  • ?Rocket rolls the ball hard.
  • ?Cups fly in every direction.
WHY THIS EXERCISEThe same ball moving faster did much more to the cups.

Great noticing today! Tomorrow we find out why the fast roll knocked down more cups.