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Workshop 4. Energy in Cycles
Energy can be seen in cycles every day, from the bouncing
of balls to the swinging of pendulums. In this session, further
explore the relationship between kinetic and potential energy to
understand how cycles begin and are sustained, and why they decay.
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Program Questions
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Answers
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1. What happens to energy when an object
swings, bounces or oscillates?
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In each cycle, potential energy is converted
to kinetic energy and back again.
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2. What are some everyday examples of
energy cycles?
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Examples of energy cycles include pendulums,
bouncing balls springs, vibrating strings, and people running
and walking.
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3. Why do most energy cycles diminish
over time?
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In each cycle, some of the energy leaves
the system as heat, sound, or other forms of energy.
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4. How can we add energy to maintain
a cycle?
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Energy impulses have to be timed —
and forces applied in the right direction — so that they
add to the total energy in the cycle in stead of reducing
it.
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 Further
Explanations
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