Conservation of mechanical energy – kinetic and potential energy on a track

Integrated ScienceEnergyAges 14–15

A ball slides on a bowl-shaped track or a ramp joined to a flat section. Drag the ball to a starting height and release it: the kinetic energy bar Ek = ½mv² and the potential energy bar Ep = mgh trade off while total mechanical energy stays constant with no friction; turning friction on shows energy converting into heat. An energy-vs-time graph, the work done by gravity, and the power all update continuously.