written by Michael R. Gallis
edited by Wolfgang Christian

The Easy Java Energizer model explores the relationship between kinetic, potential, and total energy. Students drag markers to create a 1-D curved track, then drag the motion marker to set an initial position on the track. The "hills" can be large or small in height. Click "Play" and watch the object travel along the user-created curve. Bar graphs of kinetic (KE), potential (PE), and total energy (TE), are displayed in real time alongside the curve. Below the energy chart, a graph of resulting force is also displayed.  Download File Below  

Editor's Note: This model is a simple, yet powerful way to introduce the Work/Energy Theorem. It can be easily adapted for middle school classrooms, and extended into an investigation of force vectors for high school physics courses.

The Energizer model was created using the Easy Java Simulations (EJS) modeling tool.  It is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive.  Double clicking the jar file will run the program if Java is installed.

• Download ejs_gallis_mech_Energizer.jar - 2392kb Java Archive File

Last Modified June 6, 2014

This file has previous versions.

The source code zip archive contains an XML representation of the EJS Energizer Model.  Unzip this archive in your Ejs workspace to compile and run this model using Ejs.

• Download ejs_gallis_mech_Energizer.zip - 81kb Compressed File

Published October 27, 2008
Last Modified May 19, 2009

This file has previous versions.