Title:

Snowboarding and the Conservation of Energy

Grade Level:

6,7,8,9

Subject:

Science

Author:

nbclearn

Time:

50 minutes

Lesson Plan Type:

Video,Interactive Instruction

Keywords:

Kinetic Energy, Potential Energy, Conservation of Energy, Design, Snowboarding, Skateboarding, olympics

Brief Description:

After reviewing basic energy concepts, students will design a new snowboarding event through the use of the free physics simulation program “Skateboard Park.” Students will investigate the energy dynamics their course and explore the conservation of energy principle.

  

California State Standards Addressed:

Science/9/Physics)1.0,2.0

Related Links:

Link 1:
Link 2:

Goal(s):

Students will learn about the energy dynamics of a skateboarding park. Students will learn the relationship between total energy, kinetic energy, and thermal (dissipated) energy. Students will also analyze and evaluate a design for safety.

Specific Objectives:

Students will be able to:

1. Use simulation software to design an original skate park course.
2. Use simulation software to analyze the energy of a skater at various locations on a course.
3. Explain the principle of conservation of energy.
4. Use energy pie charts and bar graphs to analyze the energy dynamics in a simulated skate park.
5. Describe the changes in potential energy and kinetic energy as a skater moves through a course.
6. Explain the role of friction in a real world skate park or snowboarding competition.
7. Explain at least one safety consideration for snowboarding course designers.

Required Materials:

Computers with internet access or downloaded java applet “Skate Park.� Ideally you will have 1 computer per 2 students.

Anticipatory Set (Lead-in):

Has anyone ever been to or seen a skateboard park or snowboarding run? What aspects of these places make them exciting for participants and observers? Believe it or not, although many skaters and snowboarders don’t particularly like all rules, they just can’t break the laws of physics. In this lesson we are going to look at a particular law, the law of conservation of energy, but first let’s watch a video on the physics of snowboarding.

Lesson Plan Procedure:

Note: This lesson assumes some familiarity with energy concepts such as kinetic energy, potential energy, and thermal (dissipated) energy. If students are not familiar with these terms then they should be clarified and discussed before watching the video.

Part 1 (10-15 minutes)

1. Show the NBC Learn Video: The Science of Snowboarding.
2. Briefly discuss the video.
3. Explain that the class has been selected to design a new type of snowboarding course (for the 2014 Winter Olympics which will be held for the first time in Russia.) In order to complete this task they will use a physics simulation program to explore the energy dynamics of a skater in a skate park.
4. Either create your own half pipe using the simulation program, or show the attached “Discussion Slides� 1-6, and discuss with the class both how the program works and the energy dynamics of the skater in a simulated half pipe. (Note: the program is very user friendly and students generally learn how to use it very quickly on their own, or working in small groups.)
5. Depending upon the level of the class, you may also want to view the optional slides 7-11 that examine frictional effects and safety considerations.

Part II Simulation Activity (35-40 minutes)

1. Hand out the activity worksheet: Conservation of Energy in a Skate Park.
2. Have groups find another group and compare designs and answers before sharing final thoughts in an all-class discussion.
3. At the end of the period, you may want to have students rotate around to other stations and vote on the top design.

Closure (Reflect Anticipatory Set):

Ask students about the differences that must be taken into account when designing a simulated skate park and a real world skate park. Ask students about the differences between designing a real world skate park and a real world snowboarding course.

Plan for Independent Practice:

Students can access this free site from any internet connected computer or download the program on a disk or thumb drive. They can explore the features in more depth including the loop feature and write about their discoveries.

Assessment Based on Objectives:

Attached Grading Rubric
Quiz: Snowboarding and Energy

Possible Connections to Other Subjects:

Language Arts: Students can write an article describing the new snowboarding event proposed for the 2014 Winter Olympics to be held in Sochi Russia.

Adaptations and Extensions:

Extensions are available on this site, particularly for grades 9-12: http://phet.colorado.edu/simulations/sims.php?sim=Energy_Skate_Park

The video refers to “pumping�, this can be discussed and related to the fact that the snowboarder in the video can continually increase his or hers “air� during the course of a run.

Additional Notes:

Choosing the option to reduce simulation speed will make it easier for students to pause a skater’s specific location.

Ideas for this lesson were adapted in part from Phet simulation lessons http://phet.colorado.edu/simulations/sims.php?sim=Energy_Skate_Park