Giving Directions 1

Relative Positioning and Energy

This unit is going to focus on how to do scientific investigations. Before we get
started in scientific investigations, let’s review the difference between
observations and inferences.

Where are you? Are you in a school, in a classroom? How many steps away
from the pencil sharpener are you? Is the sharpener to the left or right, in front
or behind you? To answer these questions you need to know your position and
some reference points. We will be talking about directions in the first part of
the lesson.

Secondly, as we begin to investigate the science of motion, we will talk about

kinetic and potential energy. Have you been to an amusement park or a
playground? There, you’ve experienced both kinetic and potential energy.

In this lesson you will write directions for another student to follow and
experience kinetic and potential energy.

Questions
1. What is the difference between kinetic and potential energy?
2. How do you describe the direction of an object’s motion?
3. How would you describe the position of an object relative to things around
it?

Key Terms
energy motion
inference potential energy
kinetic energy reference points

Before You Begin

1. Look around the room and identify an object (can be anything). Write the
name of the object below.

Answers will vary.

2. Write the position of the object. Use other items around the object as
reference points to help describe the object’s position.

Answers will vary.

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Force and Motion 3
 Activity 1: Reference Points
Materials
2 sheets of unlined paper
2 sheets of notebook paper
2 sheets of graph paper
3 index cards

Directions
Step 1 Using unlined paper, make a dot the size of your pencil’s eraser
somewhere on the paper.

Step 2 On an index card, describe the location of the dot.

Step 3 On the same sheet of paper, make a second dot. On the same index
card, describe the location of the second dot in relation to the first dot.

Step 4 Exchange your index card description and a blank sheet of paper with
your partner.

Step 5 Using the description you were given, draw the two dots on the blank
sheet of paper.

Step 6 When both you and your partner have finished making the dots;
discuss the dot placement with your partner. Using the original piece
of paper will aid in the discussion.

Step 7 Repeat this exercise with lined notebook paper, and then graph paper.

Background Information

When scientists conduct experiments they make observations and

inferences. Observations only write about what is seen, heard, felt,
or smelled. Observations do not explain. Inferences explain what
has been observed. An inference is a conclusion based on
evidence about things that have already occurred.

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Force and Motion 4
Summary
1. Write some observations about following your partner’s directions on the
lined paper, graph paper, and plain paper.
Lined Paper: Answers will vary.

Graph Paper: Answers will vary.

Plain Paper: Answers will vary.

2. What inferences can you make about drawing a dot on the lined paper
compared to the blank paper?

Answers will vary but may include that it was easier to draw the dots
on the lined paper because there were more points of reference.

3. If you could have put reference points on blank paper, what do you think
would have been helpful? top
top
Answers will vary but may include labeling the
bottom
top and bottom of the page giving orientation. bottom

4. Reread your descriptions on the index cards. Circle all the position words
you used. List positional phrases you used in your descriptions. Did these
words work? Why?

Answers will vary: “The second row from the top left corner.” I used
phrases describing the row and orientation because the directions were more
exact.

5. What are reference points?

Reference points are descriptors of objects or the background relative

to the object being observed.

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Force and Motion 5
 Activity 2: Kinetic and Potential Energy
Materials
scissors
glue stick

Directions
Step 1 Cut out the pictures on the following page. Cut along the dotted lines.

Step 2 Sort the pictures as kinetic or potential energy.

Step 3 Glue the pictures onto the chart in the correct column.

Energy Chart
Potential Energy Kinetic Energy

battery race horse

boy on slide girl on slide
hot dog race car
archer wind

*A small amount of
overlap will happen
with the kinetic energy
pictures.

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Force and Motion 6
Picture for Picture Sort:

battery race horse girl on slide

boy on slide hot dog archer

race car wind

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Force and Motion 7
Summary
1. Describe kinetic energy.

Kinetic energy is the energy of motion.

2. What are some examples of kinetic energy? (not in the chart)

Student answers will vary but may include running, jumping, flying,
stretching etc…

3. Describe potential energy.

Potential energy is stored energy, no motion is happening.

4. What are some examples of potential energy? (not in the chart)

Student answers will vary but may include a book on a table, a

stretched rubber band, suction cup on a window, battery.

Application
1. Use the map on the following page to answer the following questions.
A. George and his family just arrived at the community park. Explain to
them how to get from the parking lot to the swings and slides.

There are at least two ways to get there:

1. From the parking lot, take the road going north west until you reach
another road. Turn right towards the skateboard ramps. Walk to the
skate board ramps then take the road farthest right. Walk up that road
until you reach the swings and slides.
2. From the parking lot, take the road going north west until you reach
another road. Cross that road and walk north until you reach the plaza.
Turn directly east from the plaza and continue east and north until you
reach the swings and slides.

B. June and her brother are done riding the merry-go-round and now want to
get to the swimming pool. Explain to them how to get there.

From the merry-go-round walk south past the park offices. Walk a
while longer; the swimming pool will be on the right.

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Force and Motion 9
 Community Park Map
Map courtesy of Science Standards of Learning: Enhanced Scope and Sequence from the Virginia Department
of Education Grade 4

Picnic Shelter
N
Merry-go-round

Swings and
slides
Park Offices

Plaza

Swimming
pool

Skateboard
ramps

Map Scale
100 m

Parking

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Force and Motion 10
2. What changes between potential energy and
kinetic energy occur as you swing back and
forth on a swing?

When it is at the farthest top point, it is at

its maximum height which gives it maximum
potential energy. Here it is motionless for a
fraction of a second because it is changing
direction. After the swing changes direction
and begins swinging again, it is losing height, but gaining speed. This means
it is losing potential energy, but gaining kinetic energy. When it reaches the
very bottom, it is at its lowest point and greatest speed.

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Force and Motion 11