CONSERVATION OF ENERGY AND
ENERGY TRANSFER

Discover how energy transformation (often multiple conversions to different forms or between potential and kinetic energy) powers the world around us, our homes, our devices, and ourselves.

Video Topic Series Guide

The Caterpillar Foundation Video Series Guide for high school physics is a standards-aligned curriculum of engaging videos and hands-on activities designed to bring the world of STEM and Industry 4.0 into the classroom. Students learn the fundamentals of physical laws and how to problem solve by tackling real-world challenges in class and after-school sessions. Through a process of investigation, team discussion, and hands-on experiences, students will advance theory into applications they can see and touch.

Download

Hands-On Classroom Activities

Discover how the Laws of Motion play a part in every single thing we do with these simple, easy-to-implement activations aligned to education standards. Students will take on a series of creative STEM challenges in which they put the power of force and motion into action.

Classroom Activity

Eco-Friendly Infrastructure

Is there a more eco-friendly way for people to move around their cities and towns?
Students learn about energy efficiency and conservation and transforming potential energy to kinetic. Then they design an eco-friendly alternative to personal cars—energy-efficient tramways that make it seem like people are flying to their destination!
Download.PDF, 574KB
Classroom Activity

Ergo-lifting

How can physically demanding jobs be made safer for workers?
Physically demanding careers don’t have to be physically debilitating. The science of ergonomics helps improve how we move and lift objects safely and efficiently. Students then learn about energy transformation—from potential to kinetic—by physically lifting a box and analyzing what’s happening.
Download.PDF, 663KB
Classroom Activity

Exoskeleton Solutions

Have you ever wondered how the energy in the food we eat is converted to power our muscles?
Just like machines and computers, muscles need energy to work. Students examine the role of ATP to store and transfer energy within cells and then design an exoskeleton to help humans perform a physical task more efficiently.
Download.PDF, 551KB

AI, big data, machine learning, and automation will usher in a new and novel world full of interesting careers that don’t even exist today.

– Kat, Host

After School Activity

Explore the ways that the Laws of Motion can be harnessed in students’ everyday lives with a series of engaging activities that are easy to implement in any environment.

Afterschool Activity

Pocket Change to Power

With the increased energy demands of Industry 4.0, battery capacity and efficiency are more important than ever. Students will learn the components of a battery and will construct a basic battery to power an LED using pocket change and other household items.
Download.PDF, 612KB

Facilitator Guide

Students learn the fundamentals of physics and how to solve problems by tackling real-world challenges in out of class and after-school sessions. Through a process of investigation, team discussion, and hands-on experiences, students will advance theory into applications they can see and touch.
Download.PDF, 606KB

Select a topic to continue