Level 3: Energy in, energy out

Energy and power · level 3 of 8 · rough age 9-10 (a guide for parents; anyone can start anywhere)

In this level you meet the most important rule about energy: it is never made or destroyed, only changed from one form into another. You follow energy along chains, find out where the "wasted" energy goes, watch it swap back and forth in a pendulum and a bouncing ball, and see why a home on Mars would try never to waste any.

Lesson	You will be able to
Nothing is lost	State that energy is conserved, and check that the energy going in equals the energy coming out
Energy chains	Draw an energy chain from the Sun to a moving rover
Where the waste goes	Tell useful energy from wasted energy, and say where the waste goes
The swinging pendulum	Explain the energy changes in a pendulum, and why it swings more slowly on Mars
The bouncing ball	Explain why each bounce is lower than the last
Saving energy	Give ways to waste less energy, at home and in a Mars habitat

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