Energy Skate Track

Kinetic ⇄ potential energy, and where friction sends the rest

Energy bar chart

U_g

E_th

Total

Controls

Before releasing, drag the skater anywhere on the track to choose the starting height.

Mass m

Friction

Slow motion Show the starting height

Readout

Height y Speed v Starting height

The equation

What's happening

Key idea

With no friction, K + U_g stays constant: the skater trades height for speed and back. So v = √(2gΔh), whatever the shape of the track or the mass. Friction doesn't destroy energy. It turns some into thermal energy E_th, and the total stays the same.