Potential to Kinetic Energy Demonstration: Principles of Energy Transfer

The Materials Science and Technology Teacher's Workshop (MAST) provides this activity to illustrate the principles of energy transfer. The demonstration uses a balance, matches, soda cans and a firecracker to show how energy can transfer between light, sound, heat and kinetic energy. Potential and kinetic energy are defined and explored. The lesson includes step by step directions for the experiment. Discussion questions are also included.