Energy Skate Park: Basics - Thermal Energy | Energy | Conservation of Energy - PhET Interactive Simulations
Learn about conservation of energy with a skater gal! Explore different tracks and view the kinetic energy, potential energy and friction as she moves. Build your own tracks, ramps, and jumps for the skater.
Overview

Added
March 18, 2026
Subject & domain
physics · rotational-motion
Grade range
Grade 3–Grade 12 (Senior)
Page kind
Tool
Introduction
Energy Skate Park: Basics - Learning Objectives
- Core Concepts: Conservation of mechanical energy, kinetic energy (KE), gravitational potential energy (PE), and the impact of friction.
- Visual Analysis: Interpreting Energy Bar and Pie Charts to understand the relationship between a skater's position, speed, and energy distribution.
- Variable Impacts:
- Mass: Analyzing how changes in the skater's mass influence total energy.
- Friction: Analyzing how track friction affects energy loss and thermal energy conversion.
- Predictive Modeling: Estimating speed or position based on visual energy data.
- Quantitative Skills: Calculating KE, PE, speed, or height at specific points on the track using energy conservation principles.
- Application: Designing a skate park layout that demonstrates the practical application of mechanical energy conservation.
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