Key Terms Defined
- Kinetic energy
- Energy from motion
- Potential energy
- Stored energy that transforms into kinetic energy.
To understand how the comeback can works, you have to understand energy. Energy comes in many forms. One form of energy is motion, called kinetic energy. Another form is stored, or potential energy. The comeback can uses both forms.
When you push the can, you give it kinetic energy and it moves away from you. The hex nut holds one length of rubber band still while the rolling can causes the other rubber band to twist around it. The can rolls until the rubber band is completely twisted. This is when kinetic energy becomes potential energy - the can is not moving, but it has the ability to do so. As the rubber band unwinds, the potential energy again becomes kinetic energy and the can rolls back to you.
- Museum Hours
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- Daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Open daily except Thanksgiving and Christmas
- Museum Location
- Getting Here
More Activities
- Online Activity
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Build a Roller Coaster
Learn about energy as you send a marble through a roller coaster that you design.
- Online Activity
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Make an Egg Bungee
Make a bungee cord of rubber bands and drop an egg close to the ground.
- Online Activity
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Drop Eggs Into Cups
Learn about types of energy in this puzzling and fun experiment.
More Exhibits
- Exhibit
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Science Storms
Feel the physics and consider the chemistry of natural phenomena like tornados and avalanches.