Virtual Lab Activity on Energy Forms and Changes

Name: Sofia Graves Grade & Section: 10th

General Directions:
 Copy the link and paste in your browser. (Energy Forms and Changes)
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/energy-forms-and-changes/latest/energy-forms-and-
changes_en.html
 Click “Systems.”
 Follow all the steps in this activity IN ORDER.

A. BOILING WATER

1. Click the reset button.

2. Check the box for energy symbols.

3. Try to make the water boil using all four available energy sources (one at a time and

according to image order) on the generator .

4. Paste the four screenshots here for the four set-ups.
Set-up A

Set-up B
 Set-up C

Set-up D

5. Try to make the water boil using all four available energy sources (one at a time and

according to image order) on the solar panel .

6. Paste the four screenshots here for the four set-ups.
Set-up E

Set-up F

Set-up G
 Set-up H

7. Describe the conversion of energy from one form to another using a diagram for each set-
up. Example: Mechanical→Electrical→Thermal
Set-up A mechanical – electrical- thermal
Set-up B Mechanical→Electrical→Thermal
Set-up C Light
Set-up D Thermal- Mechanical→Electrical→Thermal
Set-up E Mechanical
Set-up F Mechanical
Set-up G Light-electric-thermal
Set-up H Termal-Mechanical
8. Describe the set-up that worked for boiling water and discuss the energy conversions.
The set up that worked was Mechanical-electrical-thermal.

B. LIGHTING UP AN INCANDESCENT BULB

1. Click the reset button.

2. Check the box for energy symbols.

3. Try to make the incandescent bulb light up using all four available energy sources (one at

a time and according to image order) on the generator .

4. Paste the four screenshots here for the four set-ups.
Set-up A

Set-up B

Set-up C
 Set-up D

5. Try to make the incandescent bulb light up using all four available energy sources (one at

a time and according to image order) on the solar panel .

6. Paste the four screenshots here for the four set-ups.
Set-up E
Set-up F

Set-up G
 Set-up H

7. Describe the conversion of energy from one form to another using a diagram for each set-
up. Example: Mechanical→Electrical→Thermal
Set-up A Mechanical-electric-thermal-light
Set-up B Mechanical-electric-thermal-light
Set-up C Light-electric-thermal-light
Set-up D thermal-mechanical
Set-up E Mechanical
Set-up F Mechanical
Set-up G light- electric-light
Set-up H thermal-mechanical
8. Describe the set-up that worked for lighting up the incandescent bulb and discuss the
energy conversions.
The set-up that worked was the sun and solar panels.

C. LIGHTING UP A COMPACT FLUORESCENT BULB

1. Click the reset button.

2. Check the box for energy symbols.

3. Try to make the compact fluorescent bulb light up using all four available energy sources

(one at a time and according to image order) on the generator

.
4. Paste the four screenshots here for the four set-ups.
Set-up A

Set-up B
 Set-up C
Set-up D

5. Try to make the compact fluorescent bulb light up using all four available energy sources

(one at a time and according to image order) on the solar panel

.
6. Paste the four screenshots here for the four set-ups.
Set-up E
Set-up F

Set-up G
 Set-up H

7. Describe the conversion of energy from one form to another using a diagram for each set-
up. Example: Mechanical→Electrical→Thermal
Set-up A Mechanical-electric-light
Set-up B Mechanical-electric-light
Set-up C light
Set-up D therma-mechanical-elecrical-light
Set-up E mechanical
Set-up F mechanical
Set-up G light-electric-light
Set-up H Chthermaal-mechanical
8. Describe the set-up that worked for lighting up the compact fluorescent bulb and discuss
the energy conversions.
thermal-mechanical-elecrical-light
D. MAKING THE FAN WORK

1. Click the reset button.

2. Check the box for energy symbols.

3. Try to make the fan work using all four available energy sources (one at a time and

according to image order) on the generator .

4. Paste the four screenshots here for the four set-ups.
Set-up A

Set-up B
Set-up C

Set-up D
5. Try to make the fan work using all four available energy sources (one at a time and

according to image order) on the solar panel .

6. Paste the four screenshots here for the four set-ups.
Set-up E

Set-up F
Set-up G

Set-up H
 7. Describe the conversion of energy from one form to another using a diagram for each set-
up. Example: Mechanical→Electrical→Thermal
Set-up A Mechanical-electric-mechanical
Set-up B Mechanical-electric-mechanical
Set-up C light
Set-up D therma-mechanical-elecrical-mechanical
Set-up E mechanical
Set-up F mechanical
Set-up G light-electric-mechanical
Set-up H Thermal-mechanical
8. Describe the set-up that worked for making the fan move and discuss the energy
conversions.
therma-mechanical-elecrical-mechaanical

CONCLUSION:
What can you conclude from this activity? Why did some set-ups work and the others
didn’t? (Explain your answer in one paragraph with 50-100 words)
I can conclude form this activity that the reason that some of the set-ups worked while others
did not is because of the way that the energy was converted. For example the wheel could not
convert light energy while the solar panel could only convert light energy.