Relation of Speed and Energy - 4th Grade Science

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Question

Glen and his friends Liam and London are going sledding at a local park. There are two hills to choose from, "The Bunny Slopes," which are small hills and lots of flat surfaces, and "The Dragon," which is a steep hill and not for beginners. Glen crashes a lot, and his friends are a little nervous. If Glen were to crash into Liam and London when they were sledding, how would the crash be different on "The Bunny Slopes" than "The Dragon"?

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Answer

When Glen sleds down both of these hills, he will be traveling at a speed relative to the slope of the hill and gravity's pull. "The Dragon" is a much steeper and longer decline, so Glen will have more time to gain speed, which means more energy behind the collision. If Liam and London are down at the end of the slope and Glen crashes into them, the force will drive both of their sleds forward and slow or stop Glen's sled. The faster Glen is going, the more energy he has behind the impact.

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