⚡ Energy Bar Charts

Energy bar graphs visually track how the total energy of a system is stored in different forms at different moments in time.

Step 1 — Define the System: Decide what's in your system (object, Earth, spring, etc.). Everything outside is the surroundings.

Step 2 — Choose Energy Types: U_g (gravitational), U_s (elastic), K (kinetic), Q (thermal/internal).

Step 3 — Pick Snapshots: Choose initial and final moments. Label them clearly.

Step 4 — Set a Scale: The sum of bar heights must equal the total energy. Use the same scale for initial and final.

Step 5 — Draw Initial Bars: Which energy types are present at the start? Set their heights.

Step 6 — Draw Final Bars: Use conservation of energy. Total initial + Work = Total final.

Step 7 — Friction: If friction is present, some mechanical energy becomes thermal energy (Q). The Q bar grows as K and/or U shrink.

Key Rule: Click cells in each column to set bar heights. Initial Energy + External Work = Final Energy.