Science Fenns K-5Grades K to 5
A row of marbles on a track with one rolling in from the left and the last marble in the row rolling away on the right.

Science / All lessons / Energy on the Move

Energy Transfer

Moving objects pass energy along.

Lesson 17 of 40

Try this first

Before we start

Today’s story

Energy Transfer

Joel drives a nail with a hammer in the barn. The hammer swings fast and hits the nail. The nail goes in. The hammer stops. Where did the hammer's motion go.

Moving objects have energy. When they hit something, they can pass energy along. The hammer gave energy to the nail. The nail pushed into the wood and made it warm. A bowling ball hits pins. The ball slows. The pins fly. Energy moved from one object to another.

This is called energy transfer. A faster or heavier object carries more energy to pass on. We can watch it with marbles, balls and dominoes. Here are the steps.

See it

Five steps. Every time.

    Hands on

    Marble Pass

    25 minutes · Do this with a grown-up nearby

    You need

    • Six marbles of equal size
    • A ruler with a groove or two rulers taped to make a track
    • Books to make a slight ramp
    • Tape measure
    • Notebook

    Do this

    1. Line up three marbles in the groove, touching.
    2. Roll one marble from the ramp into the row from the same spot.
    3. Watch the last marble and measure how far it rolls.
    4. Repeat three times.
    5. Raise the ramp and repeat to give a faster hit.
    6. Try with a heavier marble or a ball.
    7. Compare distances.
    Write or draw: A table with Ramp height, three distances in centimeters, and the average.

    Watch for: Notice that the middle marbles barely move while the end one rolls. Notice that a higher ramp sends the last marble farther.

    Safety: Keep marbles off the floor edge and pick up any that roll away.

    Same every time

    Three rules

    Rule 1Moving things have energy.

    Faster means more.

    Rule 2Energy can be passed.

    When objects hit, energy moves.

    Rule 3Measure the effect.

    How far did it go.

    Grandpa Fenn’s notebook

    Say it like a scientist

    energy
    The ability to cause change or do work.
    transfer
    To pass from one thing to another.
    motion
    Moving from place to place.
    collision
    When two moving things hit.

    Poppy’s quiz

    Six questions

    Tap an answer. Green means right. You will see why.

    Talk about it

    Say it out loud

    • How do you know energy moved from one object to another?
    • Where do you see things hit and pass motion at home or on the playground?
    Did you know

    A cue ball hit straight into another ball can almost stop, because it passes most of its energy along.

    Someone who does this

    A crash test engineer studies how energy passes from a moving car to a barrier.

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