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Energy and its forms
What energy is, the forms it takes, how it changes from one form to another, and how to calculate it with ½mv², mgh and efficiency. Three ages, each with a text, an experiment, a game, a quiz, a printable worksheet and a teacher sheet.
Ages 6–7Energy makes things happenEnergy makes things move, light up, warm up and make sounds. Find stored energy in food, batteries and rubber bands, and race a ball down a ramp.Ages 10–11Energy: forms and changesThe forms of energy, stored and working energy, how energy changes from one form to another, and why some energy is always 'wasted' as heat. With a bouncing-ball experiment.Ages 15–16Energy: calculations, conservation and efficiencyKinetic and gravitational potential energy, conservation of energy, efficiency and power, with worked examples. With an experiment to measure the efficiency of a bouncing ball.