Science / Year 8 / Science understanding / Physical sciences

Curriculum content descriptions

classify different types of energy as kinetic or potential and investigate energy transfer and transformations in simple systems (AC9S8U05)

Elaborations
  • investigating relationships between kinetic and potential energy in a simple system such as a roller-coaster or Newton’s cradle
  • classifying types of energy as either kinetic energy such as movement, heat and electricity or potential energy such as chemical, elastic and gravitational
  • critiquing and using representations such as flow diagrams to illustrate changes between different forms of energy in a system
  • identifying where heat energy is produced as a by-product of energy transfer, such as filament light globes, exercise, and battery charging and use
  • using electrical circuits and components to demonstrate electrical energy transfer and its transformation into heat, light and sound
  • observing a Rube Goldberg machine and identifying the energy transfers and transformations involved
  • investigating traditional fire-starting methods used by First Nations Australians and their understandings of the transformation of energy
General capabilities
  • Critical and creative thinking Critical and Creative Thinking
ScOT terms

Potential energy,  Kinetic energy,  Energy conversion

Interactive

Energy skate park

This interactive simulation explores the conservation of energy in a skater moving on a curved ramp. In a series of simulations students explore the transformation of energy between kinetic and potential energy; how changing the mass, friction, or gravity affects the skater's energy; students can predict position or estimate ...

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Keeping cool

In this set of learning activities, students explore the question 'How can a community reduce the heating effect of the Sun?' The module includes a comprehensive teacher guide, curriculum links, materials lists, design process guides and printable student resource sheets. The resource also provides an editable module template, ...

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Digital tectonics

This set of learning activities challenges students to use accessible digital technologies and hands-on engineering to measure simulated seismic vibrations, analyse and present data, and determine criteria for the design of earthquake tolerant buildings. The module includes a comprehensive teacher guide, curriculum links, ...

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Tanked! Energy Transformations of Mephisto

In this activity students investigate the energy transformations found in the First World War tank, Mephisto. This activity requires students to have an understanding of energy types and energy transformations and may be used to assess and extend student knowledge. This resource is part of a suite of activities from Queensland ...

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FLEET Schools: Forces and Energy

This collection of learning activities explores the concept of energy and why it is crucial to our understanding of how everything in the universe works – from sub-atomic particles to the sun, mobile phones and the universe itself. There are links to critical thinking activities and experiments that cover the concepts of ...

Downloadable

Spaghetti Quakes

This activity explains commonly used magnitude scales, provides background information on earthquake intensity and includes an extension task to map the impact of an earthquake. The worksheet activity can be adapted for student needs.

Video

Earthquake monitoring

This video introduces earthquake monitoring using seismometers and seismographs. It also features the National Earthquake Alert Centre. Students are asked to try making earthquakes at home using the accelerometers in their smartphones.

Video

Understanding the National Earthquake Alerts Centre

This video introduces the National Earthquake Alerts Centre. The video explains that earthquakes are detected by a network of seismometers; each station sends seismic information for analysis and checking by seismologists on duty. The video describes the types of wave forms in earthquakes and the sequence of events in ...

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Work sample Year 8 Science: Bouncing ball

This work sample demonstrates evidence of student learning in relation to aspects of the achievement standards for Year 8 Science. The primary purpose for the work sample is to demonstrate the standard, so the focus is on what is evident in the sample not how it was created. The sample is an authentic representation of ...

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Whimsical Whirligigs

This activity invites students to design and make Whimsical Whirligigs, kinetic contraptions that can be powered by wind, crank, or motor. Students can create wind-powered paper creatures or machines with moving parts. A The activity includes a list of tools and materials required, assembly instructions, inspiration and ...

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Bottle Racer

This activity invites students to engineer a bottle racer: a plastic water bottle propelled by energy stored in a wound-up rubber band. The activity includes a list of tools and materials required, assembly instructions, what to do and notice, an explanation for the underlying science of what students observe and suggestions ...

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Output of a Solar Cell

This activity invites students to measure the efficiency of solar cells as they convert sunlight to power. The activity includes a list of tools and materials required, assembly instructions, what to do and notice, an explanation for the underlying science of what students observe and suggestions for further activities.

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Stomp Rocket Design Challenge

This resource provides a scaffold for students to complete a design challenge. The design challenge requires students to create a stomp rocket that can travel to a chosen planet in the solar system. The design challenge can also be used to investigate forces and energy. It can be delivered over a number of lessons, or it ...

Interactive

Thermal comfort – sustainability action process (Years 7–10)

This thermal comfort learning resource will guide students through an extended school based investigation. Students will develop and implement a chosen sustainability action and then evaluate and reflect on their success and their learning.

Interactive

Renewable Energy Sources - Google Play app

Find out about renewable energies such as wind, water, solar and biomass energy including how they provide energy, development of energy technology and environmental impacts in the electronic book. scientists and inventors involved. Explore some real-world engineering feats involved in producing today's energy supplies, ...

Interactive

Projectile motion

This is an interactive resource about projectile motion. Students use a simulation of a cannon to fire various objects. They can set the firing angle, initial speed, height and mass, with or without air resistance. Students are encouraged to make a game out of this simulation by trying to hit a target. This interactive ...

Interactive

Why is it cooler up the mountains?

'Ask an expert' ABC article about why is it cooler up in the mountains though it's closer to the sun and hot air rises. An excellent explanation that elicits discussion about solar radiation and heat energy and how energy is transferred and transformed.

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The price of peak fuel

This ABC In Depth feature article discusses the projections of how long will our energy resources will last given that our need for fossil fuels is insatiable, but coal, oil, gas and uranium reserves are finite and some may even be in decline. This article is comprehensive, but it is dated at 2008.

Interactive

2024 Dreaming

Explore options for houses, work, food and transport in 2024 in this multimedia presentation from Radio National. A useful resource for stimulating discussion about applications of science and implications for society and the environment as well as current issues and developments in science. Gives examples of how different ...

Video

Can We Help?: Donuts and exercise

Peter Rowsthorn visits Dr Deborah Kerr at the WA Institute of Sport to answer the question 'How long does it take to walk off a donut?' Join Pete as he walks, jogs, rows and swims to burn off the energy from a single iced donut. As Dr Kerr takes Pete through his paces, learn how metabolic rate and muscle mass affect weight gain.