PhET Activity for MS-ETS1-2: Energy Forms and Changes

DIRECTIONS:
1. You are starting on the initial screen with two options: 'Intro' and 'Systems'.
2. Click on the 'Intro' image button on the center-left of the screen to enter the first part of the simulation.
Spend 2-3 minutes exploring the 'Intro' tab. Drag the different blocks and beakers onto the stands. Move the Heat/Cool sliders to see what happens. Drag the thermometers to measure temperature. You do not need to check any boxes yet.

QUESTION: Are you acquainted with the tools in this simulation?

DIRECTIONS:
1. Ensure you are in the 'Intro' tab.
2. Click the 'Energy Symbols' checkbox in the top right panel.

QUESTION: When you heat the iron block, energy symbols move ___ the block. When you cool it, energy symbols move ___ the block.

(a)  

DIRECTIONS:
1. From the 'Intro' tab with 'Energy Symbols' checked, click the orange 'Reset All' button in the bottom-right corner.
2. Drag the iron block onto the left stand and the brick onto the right stand.
3. Place a thermometer on each object.
4. Check the 'Energy Symbols' and 'Link Heaters' boxes in the top right panel.
5. Slowly slide the linked 'Heat' slider all the way up.

QUESTION: When heated equally, which material's temperature rises faster?

DIRECTIONS:
1. Click the orange 'Reset All' button.
2. Drag the iron block onto a stand and heat it to the maximum temperature.
3. Drag the beaker of water into the center area.
4. Place one thermometer in the water and one on the iron block.
5. Check the 'Energy Symbols' box.
6. Drag the hot iron block and drop it into the beaker of water.

QUESTION: What happens to the temperatures of the iron and water when the hot iron is placed in the cool water?

DIRECTIONS:
1. Click the 'Home' button in the bottom control bar.
2. Click the 'Systems' image button on the center-right of the screen.

QUESTION: The default energy system consists of a (a)   (source), a (b)   (converter), and a beaker of (c)   (output).

DIRECTIONS:
1. Ensure you are in the 'Systems' tab with the default setup (cyclist, generator, water).
2. Click the 'Energy Symbols' checkbox in the top right panel.
3. Set the cyclist's speed slider to the middle position to start the system.

QUESTION: Arrange the energy forms in the correct order of transformation, from the cyclist to the water.

DIRECTIONS:
1. Continue from the previous slide with the cyclist system running and 'Energy Symbols' on.

QUESTION: In the cyclist-generator system, not all energy is successfully transferred to the water heater. What form does this 'wasted' energy take?

DIRECTIONS:
1. In the 'Systems' tab, click the 'Incandescent Bulb' icon in the output selection panel (bottom-right).
2. Keep the cyclist and generator as they are, with 'Energy Symbols' on.
3. Make sure the cyclist is pedaling.

QUESTION: The incandescent light bulb is designed to produce light. Based on your observation of the energy symbols, is it an efficient design? Why or why not?

DIRECTIONS:
1. Keep the cyclist and generator system running.
2. Click the 'Fluorescent Bulb' icon in the output selection panel.

QUESTION: Compared to the incandescent bulb, the fluorescent bulb produces ___ thermal energy and ___ light energy.

(a)  

DIRECTIONS:
1. Continue observing the cyclist-generator-fluorescent bulb system.

QUESTION: Based on the criterion of producing the most light with the least wasted heat, the (a)   is the better design solution.