Lesson 20 of 84 · Energy
Simulation⭐ 30 XP⚡ Spark LabRenewable Energy Sources
Renewable Energy Sources.
🎯 Your mission
Play with the model. Break it. Understand it.
⚡ The twist
Speed isn't the same as force. Don't mix them up.
Mind = Blown
⚡ Static electricity is the same physics as lightning, just smaller.
Make a hypothesis first
Guess: where does the energy go?
What You'll Learn
A lever is a rigid bar that rotates around a fixed point called a fulcrum. Seesaws, scissors, and bottle openers are all examples of levers that multiply force.
Key Words
- resistance
- gravity
- friction
Steps
Study the diagram and label the parts you recognize.
Construct a catapult from popsicle sticks and rubber bands. Launch a marshmallow from different angles and measure the distance. Find the angle that gives the longest launch.
Compare the before and after states.
Write your conclusion: did the results match your hypothesis? What would you change next time?
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 3Which is a renewable energy source?
Where you see this in real life
This is why airplanes can fly and why rockets reach space.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
This week, find one thing in your house that turns one kind of energy into another.
For the dinner table
“Show me something at home that uses this kind of energy.”
Next Smart Experiment
We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.
Share this experiment
Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.
Checkout complete lesson on Energy for 5th Grade
Get the full Energy track as a printable PDF — all lessons, worksheets, and answer keys.