Lesson 3: Energy Transformations and Conservation in Systems
Duration of Days: 4
Lesson Objective
Students will be able to analyze energy transformations in systems and apply the law of conservation of energy to explain how energy changes form while remaining constant in total amount.
-How does energy change from one form to another in systems?
-How is energy conserved in closed and open systems?
-What happens to energy during motion, collisions, and interactions?
-How can models help track energy through a system?
-System
-Closed system
-Open system
-Energy transformation
-Mechanical energy
-Friction
-Energy loss through thermal transfer
-Efficiency
-Work
HS-PS3-1 – Model energy transfer and transformations.
HS-PS3-2 – Apply conservation of energy to system behavior.
NGSS Crosscutting Concepts
-Energy and Matter
-Systems and System Models
-Cause and Effect
-Students will analyze graphs and models showing energy changes in systems such as roller coasters, falling objects, and collisions.
-Students will interpret energy flow diagrams to determine where energy is transformed or transferred.
Students will explore how energy moves and transforms within systems while remaining conserved. Through modeling, simulations, and data analysis, students will track energy changes in real-world systems and identify where energy is stored, transferred, or transformed.
Activities may include:
-Roller coaster energy modeling
-Collision and motion simulations
-Energy bar charts and diagrams
-Tracking energy loss due to friction
Purpose: Reinforce understanding of energy conservation through system analysis and modeling.
DOK Level: 3 – Strategic Thinking
-Transportation systems, sports, amusement parks, and renewable energy systems.
-Energy is lost rather than transferred.
-Friction destroys energy.
-Objects stop having energy when motion stops.
-Energy flow diagrams with scaffolding
-Step-by-step system tracking guides
-Simulation-based learning
-Partner modeling activities
-CER sentence frames for explanations
-Energy system diagrams
-CER explanations
-Quizzes on energy conservation concepts
-Simulation data analysis
-Exit tickets identifying energy transformations
-Energy simulation tools
-Graphing and modeling worksheets
-Motion and collision systems