Mississippi Science PHS.7.3

ScienceGrades 9–12Physical Science

The Standard

PHS.7: Students will examine different forms of energy and energy transformations.

Using mathematical and computational analysis, calculate potential and kinetic energy based on given data. Use equations such as PE=mgh and KE=½ mv2.

2026 Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Science · Energy

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students use mass and height to calculate gravitational potential energy. They use mass and speed to calculate kinetic energy, square the speed, and give both answers in joules.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students choose the right equation and use kilograms, meters, and meters per second. They get the same answer by hand and with a spreadsheet formula.
Common Misconceptions: Students may forget to square speed or square the entire kinetic energy expression. They may use grams instead of kilograms or measure height from a different starting level.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: A 2 kg cart is 3 m above the floor and moves at 4 m/s. Using g = 9.8 m/s², calculate its potential and kinetic energy in joules.

Lesson moves

Weigh a toy car, place it at two marked heights on a ramp, measure each height above the floor, and calculate both potential energies.
Ask whether doubling a skateboarder's speed doubles or quadruples its kinetic energy, then have students defend an answer with two calculations.
In pairs, draw cart data cards, calculate both energies, and earn a point for correct values and units.
Calculate a 1,500 kg car's kinetic energy at 10 m/s and 20 m/s, then explain what the difference means for braking.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to PHS.7.3, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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