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Physics Classroom is making strides to make our site accessible to everyone. Our site contains 6 navigation areas. The Primary, Secondary, and Page Level navigations have a screen reader version of their nav structure that allows using the left and right keys to navigate sibling navigation items, and up or down keys to navigate parent or child navigation items. The others can be navigated using tabs. The Primary Navigation handles the first 2 levels of site pages. The Secondary (which is not always available) handles the 3rd and 4th level of structure. The Page level navigation allows you to navigate the current page's headings quickly. The Header Navigation contains the Light/Dark Mode toggle, Search, Notifications and account login. The Breadcrumb Navigation contains the breadcrumb of the current page. If the current page has a breadcrumb, you can get to it by skipping to the content and tabbing in reverse (shift plus tab). The Footer Navigation contains links such as Privacy, Contact, about and terms. Some resources contain an Audio Player that can be activated by holding down the T key for 3 seconds, and then using K to pause and resume. While not every area of Physics Classroom is usable purely from keyboard and screen reader, we are committed to continue work on making this possible. If you have questions or need additional help, please use this link to contact us.

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Energy of a Vibrating Mass on a Spring - Directions

Using the Energy of a Vibrating Mass on a Spring Concept Builder is quite simple. There are four different activities. Each activity has its own unique set of tasks to complete. In the first activity - KE, PE, and TME - you are presented with a diagram of mass on a spring with three positions along its back and forth path. For a mass moving from one position to another, you must identify how the kinetic energy, potential energy, and total mechanical energy changes. There are five answer options. You must tap on the Tap Me field to toggle through the five answer options. Once you have selected an option for each of the three energy storage modes, a Check Answer button will display at the bottom of the Concept Builder. When you are satisfied with your answer, tap on the Check Answer button. Your answers will be evaluated, and your Progress Report will be updated (if you are logged in with a Task Tracker account).

In the second activity - Energy Bar Charts - you are presented a diagram showing two locations for a vibrating mass on a horizontal spring. You are given the energy bar chart for location A. You must identify the correct energy bar chart for location B. You do this by tapping on the bar chart on the right side of the screen to toggle through the six options. When you are satisfied with your choice, tap on the Check Answer button. Your answers will be evaluated, and your Progress Report will be updated (if you are logged in with a Task Tracker account).

In the third activity - Do It With Numbers 1 - you are presented with a diagram of a mass on a horizontal spring and two labeled locations - A and B. You are told the values of the kinetic and potential energies at location A. You are also shown the equilibrium position. You must identify the values of the KE and PE at location B. You are provided three answer options. You choose your answer by tapping on one of the options to select it. Tapping a second time will deselect it. Tapping on a different answer option will select it instead. As long as an answer option is selected, a Check Answer button is displayed at the bottom of the window. If you are satisfied with your answer, tap on the Check Answer button. Your answer will be evaluated, and your Progress Report will be updated (if you are logged in with a Task Tracker account).

In the ourth activity - Do It With Numbers 2 - you are presented with a diagram of a mass on a vertical spring and two labeled locations - A and B. You are told the values of the kinetic and potential energies (both gravity and spring) at location A. You are also shown the equilibrium position and the position of zero stretch (relaxed state) and zero height. You must identify the values of the KE and PE (both gravity and spring) at location B. You are provided three answer options. You choose your answer by tapping on one of the options to select it. Tapping a second time will deselect it. Tapping on a different answer option will select it instead. As long as an answer option is selected, a Check Answer button is displayed at the bottom of the window. If you are satisfied with your answer, tap on the Check Answer button. Your answer will be evaluated, and your Progress Report will be updated (if you are logged in with a Task Tracker account).

Your goal is to earn "Stars" and to complete one or more activities. Stars are earned when you show success on a particular question. Once you show success on all the questions for a particular activity, you will earn the Trophy for that activity.

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