Energy skate park

Watch kinetic and potential energy trade places on a ramp.

Energy skate park

Interactive

height5.12m

speed0m/s

total energy3011J

Track

FrictionnoneSkater mass60 kg

The math, with your numbers

KE = \tfrac12 m v^2 = \tfrac12 (60)(0)^2 = 0\ \text{J}

PE = m g h = (60)(9.8)(5.12) = 3011\ \text{J}

KE + PE + E_{\text{thermal}} = 0 + 3011 + 0 = 3011\ \text{J}

The total never changes. Energy only moves between the bars.

Try this

→Without friction, does the skater ever go higher than where you released it? Why not?
→Add a little friction. Where does the 'lost' energy go? Watch the red bar.
→Change the mass. The energies change — but does the motion (speed, height) change?

Want to know why it behaves like this?

The lesson “Energy & Its Conservation” explains it step by step: What is energy, really — and why can't it vanish?

Energy skate park

Watch kinetic and potential energy trade places on a ramp.

Energy skate park

Interactive

height5.12m

speed0m/s

total energy3011J

Track

FrictionnoneSkater mass60 kg

The math, with your numbers

KE = \tfrac12 m v^2 = \tfrac12 (60)(0)^2 = 0\ \text{J}

PE = m g h = (60)(9.8)(5.12) = 3011\ \text{J}

KE + PE + E_{\text{thermal}} = 0 + 3011 + 0 = 3011\ \text{J}

The total never changes. Energy only moves between the bars.

Try this

→Without friction, does the skater ever go higher than where you released it? Why not?
→Add a little friction. Where does the 'lost' energy go? Watch the red bar.
→Change the mass. The energies change — but does the motion (speed, height) change?

Want to know why it behaves like this?

The lesson “Energy & Its Conservation” explains it step by step: What is energy, really — and why can't it vanish?