Energy obj in motion 09/24

4th Grade Science
Energy
Topic 3/Lesson 1

September 24, 2024

2

Do Now

Look at the images in the chart below. Write “Push” above the images that are representing objects being
pushed, and “Pull” above the images that are representing objects being pulled. Label any images that you
notice the force of gravity, magnetism, or friction acting on the objects in the image with the words “gravity”,
“magnetism”, or “friction”.

Explain your reasoning for each of
your labels.

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________
_________

_________

_________

_________

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Energy

LO: SWBAT investigate and identify the transfer of
energy by objects in motion.

DOL: Given scenarios, SW correctly identify the transfer
of energy by objects in motion in at least 4 of 5
questions.

SCI.4.8A Investigate and identify the transfer of energy by objects in motion, waves in water, and sound;
SEPs 4.1G
RTCs 4.5E

4

Essential Understandings &

Guiding Questions

How does energy transfer from place to place?

What happens to energy when objects collide?

Multiple Choice

True or False. Energy can be created

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which image shows potential energy?

Multiple Choice

A fan plugged into a wall is which transfer of energy

• Electrical to mechanical.

• Potential to sound.

5

Lesson Vocabulary

Energy

Collide

Motion

Collision

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Phenomenon Question

What happens to energy when objects collide?

Can you name
some things
that collide?

7

Investigation Question:

Does an object’s speed affect energy during a collision?

Groups will design an investigation in which a ball bearing collides with
another object. The second object is called a catch.

The goals are to find out whether a faster-moving ball bearing has more
energy than a slower-moving ball bearing and what happens to that
energy during a collision.

Compare how much energy the ball bearings have by observing how far
the ball bearings push the catch.

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Investigation Question:

Does an object’s speed affect energy during a collision?

Ball Bearing
or marble

Books
Ruler

How could we vary the ball bearing’s speed?

Catch

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Investigation Plan

1. Conduct the investigation on a flat surface.

2. Choose a textbook that has a width of at least 1 inch. Position the book flat
on the surface. Lean the ruler flat-side down on the book to create a ramp. Line
up the ruler's 28 cm mark with the edge of the book.

3. Place a piece of tape on the work surface so that the edge lines up with the
end of the ruler. This edge of the tape will be the start line.

4. Place the ball bearing catch against the end of the ruler so that the front
(open side) of the catch lines up with the start line.

5. Release the ball bearing from the ruler's 7 cm mark, and then measure how
far the front of the catch slides from the start line. Reset the catch and perform
three more trials at the 7 cm mark.

6. Repeat the investigation, releasing the ball bearing from the ruler's 14
cm, 21 cm, and 28 cm marks.

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Conduct the Investigation

Fill in the blank
headings on the
data table

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Analyze and Interpret Data

Release
Point on

Ramp

(centimeters
from bottom)

Trial 1

Trial 2

Trial 3

Trial 4

Typical
Distance

Value

7

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

14

2.8

3.0

3.1

3.1

3.0

21

4.2

4.2

4.2

4.3

4.2

28

5.3

5.5

5.8

5.3

5.5

Sample data table:

Distance Ball Bearing Catch Travels (centimeters)

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Graphing

How do they relate to speed?

_______ (More or Less) energy causes the ball
bearing to move with ______(more or less) speed.

How do the increasingly higher release points

relate to energy?

The ______(higher or lower) the release point
height, the ______(more or less) energy the ball
bearing has.

higher

more

More

more

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Graphing

How does the distance the catch travels

relate to energy?

Giving ______ (more or less) energy to the
ball bearing causes the catch to move a
_______ (longer or shorter) distance.

more

longer

14

Graph with Analysis

Does the ball bearing
have more energy when
it moves quickly or
slowly? How do you
know?

Model Energy before a Collision

Work with a partner to develop a model explaining what happened before the collision.
Purpose of the model: To find out what happens to energy when objects collide.

Before

Model Energy during a Collision

During

How did the catch get energy to

move?

What caused the catch to move?

Repeat steps for modeling energy during a collision

Model Energy after a Collision

Repeat steps for modeling energy after a collision.

After

What happens to the energy from the

ball bearing?

Why do you think the ball bearing and

catch didn’t travel as far as the ball

bearing by itself, even though you put

in the same amount of energy?

Copyright © Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved. Savvas is not responsible for any modifications made by end users to the content posted in its original format.

What is energy transfer?

Transfer means to move from one place to another. Energy
transfers through objects or space and can cause a change.

Photo credit: Dietrich Leppert/Shutterstock

Copyright © Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved. Savvas is not responsible for any modifications made by end users to the content posted in its original format.

How does energy transfer by objects in motion?

Energy transfers when a moving object hits another object.
Some of the moving object’s energy transfers to the object it
hits. This can change the motion of both objects.

Photo credit: Daineko Natalia/Shutterstock

Copyright © Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved. Savvas is not responsible for any modifications made by end users to the content posted in its original format.

Energy Transfer by Objects in Motion

Select the example of energy transfer by objects in motion.

Photo credit: Orawan Pattarawimonchai/Shutterstock, Marek Mnich/Shutterstock

21

22

23

24

Energy Transfer Between Objects

Explain how energy is transferred from a soccer ball when it is kicked by a
player.

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

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Observe the image.

If the pendulum is released from
position 3, the ball will –

A.

not move

B.

travel the same distance as the
other two positions

C.

travel a farther distance than
the other two positions

D.

travel a shorter distance than
the other two positions

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DOL: Given
scenarios, SW
correctly identify the
transfer of energy by
objects in motion in
at least 4 of 5
questions.

Demonstration of Learning

●Some images used in this lesson are taken from Adobe Stock. Adobe Stock
https://stock.adobe.com

●Some images used in this lesson are taken from Great Minds. Great Minds
https://digital.greatminds.org

●Some images used in this lesson are taken from SAVVAS realize. SAVVAS
realize https://www.savvasrealize.com

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Copyright for Reference