Teacher practical P1.

Energy circus
Specification references
 P 1.1.1 Energy stores and systems, P.1.2.1 Energy transfers in a system
 WS 1.2.

Aims
 In this activity students will practise describing energy stores, energy
transfers, and the processes by which energy transfers take place, as they are
prompted by a variety of observations.
 High-attaining students will also describe factors affecting the capacity
of energy stores.

Learning objectives
After completing the practical students should be able to:
 describe energy stores, and say when an energy store is increasing or decreasing
 describe energy transfers, and name processes which make energy
transfers happen.

Teacher notes
 Before doing the practical, students should be introduced to the concepts of energy stores, energy
transfers, and some of the processes by which energy transfers happen. You should also check
whether students remember, from their previous learning, any types of energy store – such as
kinetic, elastic, and gravitational potential energy stores. The practical helps students to apply these
ideas to a range of scenarios.
 The activity can be adapted according to the equipment available. Alternatives include: radio-
controlled car; wind-up radio; solar-powered cart; MP3 player.
 Check beforehand that students can access the recommended website (which requires Java to run).
Alternatively, you may instead download and save the simulation and then play it offline.

Answers for method sheet

1 Wooden block falling onto the floor
a Gravitational potential energy. (1 mark)
b Kinetic energy (and thermal energy). (1 mark)
c To the surroundings / air / floor. (1 mark)
d By heating; and by sound (waves). (2 marks)

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 Teacher practical P1.1
Extension
e i Larger. (1 mark)
ii Larger. (1 mark)
2 Candle or spirit burner
a (The candle/burner’s store of) chemical energy. (1 mark)
b To the surroundings / air. (1 mark)
c Heating; and light (waves). (2 marks)
3 Radio
Energy transferred from mains/cable/power station (or batteries); to
(speakers of) radio; by electric current; and then to surroundings; by
sound (waves) (and heating). (5 marks)
4 Wind-up toy
a (The toy’s store of) elastic potential energy. (1 mark)
b (The toy’s store of) kinetic energy. (1 mark)
c Transferred to surroundings. (1 mark)
d Heating; and sound (waves). (2 marks)
Extension
e Any one of: stiffer spring; bigger spring (more turns); multiple springs. (1 mark)
5 Torch
a (The battery’s store of) chemical energy. (1 mark)
b i Chemical reaction (in battery). (1 mark)
ii Electric current / flow of charge. (1 mark)
iii Heating; and light (waves). (2 marks)
6 Dynamo connected to a lamp
a (Student’s store of) chemical energy. (1 mark)
b Turn handle more slowly; or sensible alternative. (1 mark)
c Chemical to kinetic (Energy transferred to dynamo); then kinetic to electric (wires/circuit, then
bulb); then electric to heat and light (bulb lights & heats surroundings). (4 marks)
7 Kettle
a Diagram shows any five of: energy transferred from mains/cable/power station; by electric
current; to (heating element in) kettle; then to water; by heating/conduction; then to surroundings;
by heating/conduction/radiation (and sound). (5 marks)
Extension
b Any one of: chemical energy in coal/oil/gas; energy in nuclear fuel. (1 mark)
8 Motor
a Diagram shows: energy transferred from mains/power pack (or battery); by electric current; to
motor; to surroundings; by friction / air resistance. (5 marks)
Extension
b (Kinetic) energy store of motor decreases; because energy is transferred to surroundings. (2
marks)

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 Teacher practical P1.1
Student follow-up
1 Diagram shows: energy transferred from Sun; by radiation/light (waves); to solar panel; and then by
electric current; to bulb; and then by light (waves) (and small amount of heating); to air/surroundings.
(7 marks)
9 Diagram shows: energy transferred from water; by (action of a) force; to wheel; and then by electric
current; to bulb; and then by light (waves); and by heating/radiation; to surroundings. (7 marks)
10 Diagram shows: energy transferred from kettle/water (to steam by boiling); by kinetic energy (from
steam); to dynamo; and then by electric current; to bulb; and then by light (waves); and by
heating/radiation; to surroundings. (8 marks)
11 Diagram shows: energy transferred from (chemical energy store in) human; by kinetic energy (doing
work) on pedals/wheel; to dynamo; then by electric current; to water heater; then by
heating/conduction; to water; then by heating/conduction/convection/radiation; to surroundings/air.(9
marks)

Extension
12 Up to three sensible suggestions, such as: could help with understanding energy stores (can see
energy in device); or energy transfer (can see energy move from one device to another); could be
unhelpful by making students think energy comes in equal-sized ‘blocks’; or that energy is a material
substance. (3 marks)

Answers for method sheet – access version (Target 4)

1 Wooden block falling onto the floor
a Gravitational potential (1 mark)
b Kinetic (1 mark)
c Sound waves and heating (1 mark)
13 Candle or spirit burner
a Chemical (1 mark)
b Heating and light waves (1 mark)
14 Radio
a By electric current (1 mark)
b By sound waves (1 mark)
15 Wind-up toy
a Elastic potential (1 mark)
b Kinetic (1 mark)
c Energy is transferred from the toy to the surroundings by heating. (1 mark)
16 Torch
a Chemical (1 mark)
b i Chemical reaction (1 mark)
ii Electric current (1 mark)
iii Light waves and heating (1 mark)
17 Dynamo connected to a lamp
a Your chemical energy store. (1 mark)
b You → dynamo → lamp → surroundings. (1 mark)
18 Kettle
a Thermal (1 mark)

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 Teacher practical P1.1
b From water to surroundings by heating. (1 mark)
c In a power station (1 mark)
19 Motor
a Kinetic (1 mark)
b From motor to surroundings by heating. (1 mark)

Student follow-up – access version (Target 4)

1 a One mark for each of the underlined terms. (4 marks)

store of chemical energy transferred to surroundings

potential energy in by heating and light waves
candle/burner

b One mark for each of the underlined terms. (5 marks)

store of elastic store of kinetic energy transferred to

energy in toy energy in toy surroundings by heating and
sound waves

c One mark for each of the underlined terms. (4 marks)

store of energy in power store of thermal energy transferred to

station / electrical energy energy in surroundings by
in wires kettle/water heating

2 a Chemical (potential); kinetic; thermal; heating. (4 marks)

b Sun; lightbulb; surroundings. (3 marks)

Additional support and challenge

 Students at or near Target 4 can do the ‘access’ version of this practical: the stations are the same,
but the questions and the follow-up activity are aimed at students working at Target 4. The practical
could be made shorter by reducing the number of stations.
 Extra support could be given by starting with a class discussion about station
A.
 The activity could be made more challenging by removing the specific questions about each station
and replacing them with an instruction to write about energy stores, energy transfers from these
stores, and the processes which make these happen, for each station.

© Oxford University Press 2016: www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements

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 Teacher practical P1.1

Technician notes
 This is a ‘circus’ activity, in which students move between different stations.
 If possible, set up the stations around the room before the lesson.

Safety
 (A) Students should make sure the block is not dropped anywhere near
someone's feet.
 (B) Students should not touch or move the burner or candle.
 (D) Students should stop the toy from falling off the bench.
 (G) Students should not touch the hot kettle or try to open it or pour water from it.

Equipment and materials – one set of each at labelled stations

Wooden block falling onto the floor (A)
 Small wooden block
 Piece of foam for block to land on, if necessary to protect floor
Candle or spirit burner (B)
 Tea light candle or spirit burner set up securely in tray of sand
 Matches or lighter (for teacher)
Radio (C)
 Radio, tuned to a station (either mains- or battery-powered)
Wind-up toy (D)
 Wind-up toy (which runs on wheels)
Torch (E)
 Battery-operated torch
Dynamo connected to a lamp (F)
 Dynamo, with bulb or LED which lights when dynamo handle is turned
Kettle (G)
 Kettle plugged into mains (about half full so that it will not boil dry), which turns itself off when the
water boils
Motor (H)
 Motor (mains- or battery-powered) which students can turn on/off with a switch
 Small turbine attached to spindle to show movement of motor (optional)

© Oxford University Press 2016: www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements

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