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Motion Energy — Reading Comprehension

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This NGSS-aligned science passage for 4th graders focuses on the disciplinary core concept of Motion Energy (PS1.A). It's designed to build reading comprehension skills while explaining fundamental scientific principles in an accessible way. The passage defines motion energy and explores how mass and speed affect its quantity. Students will learn about the transfer of energy through real-world examples, and the accompanying multiple-choice questions align with Webb's Depth of Knowledge levels to assess recall, inference, and application. This resource is perfect for teaching fundamental physics concepts at the elementary level, making science engaging and understandable for young learners. This educational tool effectively links science content with reading comprehension, providing a comprehensive learning experience aligned with national educational standards. It's a great way to introduce elementary students to the physics of force and motion.

CONTENT PREVIEW

What Is Motion Energy?
Motion energy, also called kinetic energy, is the energy that all moving things have. If something is moving, it has motion energy. When something stops, its motion energy becomes zero.

How Do Weight and Speed Affect Motion Energy?
The amount of motion energy depends on two things: how heavy the object is (its mass) and how fast it is moving (its speed). The faster something goes, the more motion energy it has. If you double the speed, the motion energy actually becomes four times bigger! Heavier things also have more motion energy at the same speed. For example, a truck driving at the same speed as a bicycle has much more motion energy because it is much heavier.

Everyday Examples of Motion Energy
Motion energy is everywhere. When you roll a ball slowly, it has a little motion energy. If you roll it fast, it has a lot more. When you walk, you have motion energy, but you have even more when you run. Moving air, called wind, has motion energy too. Wind turbines use the motion energy of the air to make electricity. Flowing water in rivers also carries motion energy.

Energy Transfer and Collisions
When two moving objects hit each other, they can transfer motion energy. This is called a collision. For example, when a bowling ball hits the pins, it transfers motion energy to the pins and knocks them over. When a baseball bat hits a baseball, energy moves from the bat to the ball.

Kinetic and Potential Energy
On a playground swing, when you are at the highest point, you have mostly potential energy. As you swing down, that energy turns into motion energy. At the bottom, you have the most motion energy. The swing keeps changing energy back and forth!

Why Motion Energy Matters for Safety
Understanding motion energy helps us stay safe. Fast, heavy cars have a lot of motion energy, which is why we wear seatbelts and helmets. They help protect us by absorbing some of that energy if we stop suddenly.

Interesting Fact:
Motion energy is like a moving savings account—the faster and heavier something is, the more energy it carries with it!

What is another name for motion energy?

Kinetic energyPotential energyWind energyThermal energy

What happens to motion energy when something stops?

It becomes zeroIt doublesIt increasesIt becomes wind

What has more motion energy at the same speed?

A heavy truckA bicycleA featherA leaf

Why do we wear helmets and seatbelts?

To protect from motion energyTo go fasterTo carry more massTo make cars lighter

What happens in a collision?

Motion energy is transferredObjects disappearNothing changesObjects slow down

What is true about speed and motion energy?