Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy

Lab Brief #5

🎯 Your mission

Understand the idea. Then look for it everywhere.

⚡ The twist

Energy never disappears — it just hides somewhere else.

What you'll learn

Renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydroelectric power can be replenished naturally. Nonrenewable sources like fossil fuels take millions of years to form.

Key words

kinetic energy
The energy an object has because it is moving.
potential energy
Stored energy an object has because of its position or shape.
power
How fast energy is used or work is done.

Make a hypothesis first

Before you start: which will move faster, and why?

Say your guess out loud — then find out if you were right.

Step 1 of 4 · Read

Look at the vocabulary words and write a definition for each in your own words.

Step 2 of 4 · Do

Create a Rube Goldberg machine with at least 5 steps that demonstrates energy transfer from one form to another.

Step 3 of 4 · Observe

Observe what happens and describe it in detail.

Step 4 of 4 · Record

Record your observations in your science journal with measurements and descriptions.

Question 1 of 3

Which is a renewable energy source?

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Question 2 of 3

What form of energy does food contain?

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Question 3 of 3

What type of energy does a moving object have?

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Mind = blown

🎢 You feel weightless on a roller coaster because you and the seat are falling at the same speed.

Nice work!

You got 0 of 3 right.

All lessons

🎯

Next Smart Experiment

We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.

✨ More to explore

🌍 Where you see this in real life: You use this every time you flip a light switch, ride a bike, or kick a ball.

🏆 Stretch challenge (try it this week): Time how long a small ball rolls down something, then change the slope and try again.

👨‍👩‍👧 For the dinner table: “Show me something at home that uses this kind of energy.”

⚡Share card

Share this experiment

Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.

Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy

Next Smart Experiment

Share this experiment

Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy

Done with science? Try something else

Your Cart (0)