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Science lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 45 minutes

Where does the energy go when things collide?

Energy

CCSS NGSS.4-PS3-3England: KS3 Physics: Energy (energy changes and transfers)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Where does the energy go when things collide?.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Faster objects have more energy

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Wind-up toys or a pendulum, Energy transfer diagrams, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Faster objects have more energy). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which has the most energy of motion? (the same cyclist standing still / the same cyclist riding slowly / a cyclist riding fast downhill / a parked bike) → a cyclist riding fast downhillPrompt: Same cyclist, different speeds.
  2. True or false? A slow ball has more energy than the same ball moving fast. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Compare the same object at different speeds.
  3. A bowling ball is rolled slowly, then quickly. When does it knock down more pins? (when it is rolled slowly / when it is rolled quickly / it never knocks pins down / it is always the same) → when it is rolled quicklyPrompt: Which ball has more energy to transfer?

Hook · 5 min

  • Wind up a toy or stretch an elastic band and ask where the energy goes.
  • Share the objective: Where does the energy go when things collide?. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Two toy cars crash. You hear a bang and the bumpers get slightly warm. Where did some of the motion energy go?
  • Step 1: In a collision, motion energy is transferred to sound, heat and the motion of the other object.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: into sound and heat
  • Answer: into sound and heat
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. A moving snooker ball hits a still one head-on. The first stops and the second rolls away. What happened to the energy? (It went back into the cue. / The second ball made new energy. / It vanished. / It was transferred from the first ball to the second.) → It was transferred from the first ball to the second.Prompt: The first ball stopped; the second started moving.
  2. Which energy transfer does this example mainly show: brake pads getting hot? (sound / heat / motion of another object) → heatPrompt: Do you hear it, feel it warm up, or see something else start moving?

You do: independent practice · 10 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. True or false? A collision can only change an object's speed, never its direction. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Energy is never lost or made. Where does it go?
  2. Why does a bouncing ball bounce a little lower each time? (Gravity gets stronger. / The ball gets heavier. / The floor gets taller. / Each bounce transfers some energy into sound and heat.) → Each bounce transfers some energy into sound and heat.Prompt: Listen to each bounce.

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Faster objects have more energy.
  • Use concrete materials: wind-up toys or a pendulum.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-4.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Where does the energy go when things collide?

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    True or false? When objects collide, energy can be transferred between them.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  2. Question 2

    Which energy transfer does this example mainly show: a cue ball setting another ball rolling?

    • A. sound
    • B. heat
    • C. motion of another object

  3. Question 3

    Two toy cars crash. You hear a bang and the bumpers get slightly warm. Where did some of the motion energy go?

    • A. into light only
    • B. into the air as wind
    • C. into sound and heat
    • D. it was destroyed

  4. Question 4

    True or false? Some energy in a collision is transferred as sound.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  5. Question 5

    Which energy transfer does this example mainly show: the crack of a bat hitting a ball?

    • A. sound
    • B. heat
    • C. motion of another object

  6. Question 6

    True or false? Energy is destroyed in a crash.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  7. Question 7

    Which energy transfer does this example mainly show: brake pads getting hot?

    • A. sound
    • B. heat
    • C. motion of another object

  8. Question 8

    Why does a bouncing ball bounce a little lower each time?

    • A. The ball gets heavier.
    • B. Gravity gets stronger.
    • C. Each bounce transfers some energy into sound and heat.
    • D. The floor gets taller.

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Answer key: Where does the energy go when things collide?

  1. 1. A. True

  2. 2. C. motion of another object

  3. 3. C. into sound and heat

  4. 4. A. True

  5. 5. A. sound

  6. 6. B. False

  7. 7. B. heat

  8. 8. C. Each bounce transfers some energy into sound and heat.