Riser Jump: Potential & Kinetic Energy Transformer

Festival context —A performer stands on a riser at height h. Adjust their mass and height. Watch the energy bars transform from pure PE at the top to pure KE at the moment of landing — the most dramatic physics moment in the Cry of Jelicuon.

S9FE-IIIa-21Grade 9 · Quarter 3Differentiate Potential and Kinetic Energy

Riser Jump: Potential & Kinetic Energy Transformer

Interactive Simulator

"A performer stands on a riser at height h. Adjust their mass and height. Watch the energy bars transform from pure PE at the top to pure KE at the moment of landing — the most dramatic physics moment in the Cry of Jelicuon."

Riser Jump Stage

speed1.00×

All potential energy at the top converts to kinetic energy at landing — the total stays constant. Mass scales both energies equally; height sets the impact speed √(2gh).

Adjust Variables

Riser height (m)1.5 m

0.53

Performer mass (kg)55 kg

4090

Physics ReadoutsLIVE

Potential Energy (top)808.5 J

Kinetic Energy (landing)808.5 J

PE = mass * 9.8 * height

Community Hub — Cultural Discussion

Reflect & Connect

The choreographer plans a scene where the heaviest performer jumps from the tallest riser. Is this the most dramatic moment in terms of kinetic energy? What factors determine how 'powerful' the landing looks? As a safety officer, what height limit would you recommend and why?

Discuss with your class or write your response in your science journal.

Performance Task

Measure Your Own Gravitational PE

1Do

Stand on a sturdy step, chair, or low wall of known height (measure the height in centimeters with a ruler or by counting stair steps — each standard stair is about 18 cm). Have a partner time how long it takes you to step down carefully from different heights.

2Measure

Record your body mass (from a weighing scale or ask your PE teacher), the step height in meters, and calculate PE = mgh using g = 9.8 m/s². Also estimate your landing speed using v = √(2gh) and compare it to the simulator output.

3Reflect

A Cry of Jelicuon performer jumping from a 1.5 m riser converts that PE entirely to KE on landing. How does your calculated PE compare? Using S9FE-IIIa-21, explain why a heavier performer landing from the same height hits with more kinetic energy — and why that affects both the drama and the safety requirements of the festival.

Record your measurements and reflections in your science journal.

Module Overview

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