In this experiment, students build a paper ramp and use it investigate collisions between marbles. By letting a marble go at different heights you can see how both speed and impact change. By choosing different numbers of marbles you can see how much energy is transferred between the marbles. Throughout the investigation, students relate their findings to the marble’s kinetic and potential energies as well as other types of energy such as heat and sound. 
 
Concepts Addressed
Energy can be transferred into other types of energy.
Energy is not destroyed.
Energy is not created--it must come from somewhere.
Gravitational potential energy is related to kinetic energy of a falling object.
 
Materials Needed
marbles, cardstock, books for propping
 
Time Required
This lab takes about 30 mins, but with extensions can take longer.
 
Student Sheets
• Scaffolded writing prompts & lab reporting 
 
Related Labs   Motion and Newton's Laws

Answer Keys and Teacher Notes address most questions and issues that might arise in this study—you shouldn’t have to do any outside research unless you want to.

​

Connect with me: If you have questions or problems, please let me know and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

 

This resource (along with all resources sold on this site) can be found inside the membership. For information on that option, click here.

Terms of Use   Copyright © Carolyn Balch. All rights reserved by the author. This product is to be used by the original downloader only. Copying for more than one teacher, classroom, department, school, or school system is prohibited. This product may not be distributed or displayed digitally for public view. Failure to comply is a copyright infringement and a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Clipart and elements found in this PDF are copyrighted and cannot be extracted and used outside of this file without permission or license. Intended for classroom and personal use ONLY.