Strain Energy

An animation showing how strain energy is created and stored when an elastic material is stretched; in this case, exemplified by the workings of a crossbow.

I have many others of the same format; these can be seen by visiting my shop on the TES website (search: rtyler62).

If you buy this resource, please print the Readme document as it contains the instructions and details of the files included.

NOTE: MACROS MUST BE ENABLED FOR ALL POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS

Support material
Readme (instructions for whole lesson)
Learning outcomes (PowerPoint)
Starter activity (PowerPoint and worksheet)
Main activity (PowerPoint presentation)
Assessment (worksheets with answer sheets - differentiated)
Lesson notes (handout – 2 x A5 on A4 paper)
Plenary activity (PowerPoint and worksheet)

Users and timings
It is intended for all science teachers but particularly those who are not physics specialists and is, primarily, aimed at 14 to 16 year old pupils. Normally, the activities would fill a 45 to 60 minute lesson but could easily be extended to two lessons.

Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes are based on Bloom’s taxonomy of hierarchical classification: knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation. The lesson title and learning outcomes are:

How do crossbows work?

Learning outcomes

Comprehension
To restate the relationship between:
energy, force and extension
force, the spring constant and extension
energy, the spring constant and extension

Analysis
To calculate the strain energy stored in a stretched object.

Differentiation
The activities have varying degrees of differentiation; please refer to the Readme document.