Students explore energy transformations and are introduced to the laws of thermodynamics in this series of three lessons. In each lesson students watch a video (available and viewable online) about a different mode of transportation and examine the energy transformations that occur in each. In the first lesson students identify various types of energy and trace energy transformations back to the sun. Lesson 2 requires students to diagram the energy transformations involved in moving a ship up and down river through a series of locks. In the third and final lesson students build their own steam engine and apply the principles behind steam power to the transformation of energy and the laws of thermodynamics.

Please note that the student handout with instructions for building the steam engine can be downloaded from the first page of the site. The Newton's Apple links can be accessed at the following URLs: Riverboats, http://www.tpt.org/newtons/14/riverboats03.html; Locks and Dams, http://www.tpt.org/newtons/10/lock-dam.html; Car Engines http://www.tpt.org/newtons/15/carengines.html(author/ts)