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Science Launch G4 / Week 01 / Tuesday
2/6
Week 01 · Speed and Energy

Tuesday

Faster means more energy
// Faster things carry more energy
⏱ about 15 min

Tuesday: Faster means more energy

At the park, Raven tosses a beanbag to Rocket. It lands softly in his hands with a quiet pat.

Then Rocket throws it back fast. It smacks into her hands with a loud thwap that stings a little.

"Same beanbag," Raven says, shaking her fingers. "What do you notice about the catch?"

Nova circles them. "Here is a hint," she says. "Compare how fast it flew each time. Then compare what it did to your hands."

The faster, the more energy

Here is the big idea for this week. The faster an object moves, the more energy it has.

This works when we compare the same object at different speeds.

A slow beanbag lands softly. A fast beanbag hits harder and makes a louder sound.

That bigger push and louder sound are evidence. They show the fast beanbag carried more energy.

Same objectSlowFast
Beanbaglands softlyhits hard, loud thwap
Rolling ballbarely moves a cupknocks cups flying
Bikeeasy to stopharder to stop
LEAST ENERGY TO MOST ENERGY
  • ?The same ball kicked hard and zooming
  • ?A soccer ball rolling very slowly
  • ?The same ball rolling at walking speed
WHY THIS EXERCISEFor the same object, more speed means more motion energy.
WHICH HAS MORE ENERGY?
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Two identical toy cars roll on a floor. Car A is fast. Car B is slow. Which has more energy?
Rocket slows his bike down to pass a friend. What happens to the bike's energy?
Fill in the word: The faster an object moves, the ____ energy it has.
WHY THIS EXERCISESpeed and motion energy go up together for the same object.

Comparing the same object

The big idea works best when we compare the same object at two speeds.

A slow beanbag and a fast beanbag are a fair comparison. Only the speed is different.

Comparing a beanbag with a bowling ball would not be fair. They are different objects.

So scientists keep the object the same and change only the speed.

FAIR COMPARISON?
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Raven rolls the same marble slow, then fast. Is that a fair way to compare speed?
Rocket rolls a marble, then a big ball. Is that a fair way to compare speed?
The same beanbag is thrown slow, then fast. Which catch stings more?
StatementTrue or false?
A fast bike is harder to stop than the same bike going slow.?
A slow beanbag hits harder than a fast one.?
A louder sound can be evidence of more energy.?
Speed has nothing to do with energy.?
WHY THIS EXERCISEFor the same object, faster means more energy, which shows in harder hits and louder sounds.
What one thing changes in a fair speed test? Type one word.
WHY THIS EXERCISEKeep the object the same and change only its speed.
Try it
Roll a soft ball gently into a pillow. Listen and watch.
Roll the same ball faster into the pillow.
Which roll made a bigger dent or a louder sound?
Safety first
Roll the ball along the floor, never toward people or pets.
Use a soft ball.

You spotted a real pattern today. Tomorrow we test it with a ramp and a ball!

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