Giant Paint Paddle Probe – Elastic Energy Transformations Name____________________________

Scenario: Jim launches a small green clay monster into the air using a long flexible stick that is clamped to a table. Watch this scenario at normal speed and then slow motion and answer the following questions.)

Consider the four snapshots shown below which occur during the launch of the green monster. Snapshot #1 – Jim is holding the end of the stick down with his hand just before launching the green monster.

Snapshot #2 – Jim has released the stick and both the stick and monster are moving upward.

Snapshot #3 – The stick becomes straight as both the stick and the monster move upward.

Snapshot #4 – The monster flies off the stick as the stick curves upward.

What forms of energy does the stick have at the moment shown in snapshot #2?

o Motion energy

o Elastic energy

o Both motion and elastic energy

o Neither motion or elastic energy

Explain your reasoning:

The paddle is bent, thus it has elastic energy. The paddle is also starting to move so it has motion energy

Giant Paint Paddle Probe – Elastic Energy Transformations Name____________________________

At the moment shown in snapshot #2 the elastic energy of the stick is…

o Zero

o Increasing

o Decreasing

o Not changing

This answer makes sense to me because:

The paddle is becoming less bent and moving towards its equilibrium position (that being straight)

At the moment shown in snapshot #2 the motion energy of the stick is…

o Zero

o Increasing

o Decreasing

o Not changing

This answer makes sense to me because:

The paddle started at rest with Jim holding it in the bent position. In this snapshot, it has begun to move and thus an

increase in motion energy

Giant Paint Paddle Probe – Elastic Energy Transformations Name____________________________

For which snapshot does the long stick have the least elastic energy?

o Snapshot #1

o Snapshot #2

o Snapshot #3

o Snapshot #4

The snapshot I chose makes sense to me because:

The stick is straight and thus has no elastic energy

Three students are talking about the motion energy the green monster has when it is launched by the stick. They have different ideas about where that motion energy is in snapshot #1.

Which student do you agree with?

o Amy says, “The energy is in Jim’s hand because he is holding down the stick.”

o Ben says, “The energy is in the stick because it is bent.”

o Celena says, “The energy is created by Jim’s force as he holds down the stick.”

o Damien says, “The energy gets created when the stick springs upward.”

Explain your reasoning.

Energy cannot be created or destroyed and so Celena’s and Damien’s responses are not correct. The fact that the stick is

bent and not in its equilibrium position, tells us that it has elastic potential energy. After Jim releases the stick, the stick is what moves and causes the monster to fly in the air. That elastic

potential energy is changing into motion energy