Energy in Getting Over It
Lesson Overview
Title: Getting Over It: An Energetic Journey Through Physics
Subject: Science (Physics)
Age Group(s): 14–18 (Grades 9–12)
Tags: Energy Transformation, Potential Energy, Kinetic Energy, Work, Physics, Gamification, Problem-Solving
Description:
In this lesson, students will analyze gameplay from "Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy" to model and understand the principles of energy transformation. By observing the character's challenging climb and dramatic falls, students will explore the relationship between gravitational potential energy, kinetic energy, and the work required to move an object within a system.
Lesson Plan
📋 Find the full lesson plan on the companion GameClass lesson — link at the bottom of this page!
Lesson Content
I. Key Teaching Points
- Point 1: An object's gravitational potential energy is directly related to its height above a reference point; as it climbs higher, its stored energy increases.
- Point 2: Stored potential energy is converted into kinetic energy (the energy of motion) when the object falls.
- Point 3: The player must do work on the system by using the hammer to add mechanical energy, allowing the character to overcome gravity and increase his height.
II. Practical Examples
For Teaching Point 1:
The primary goal throughout the video is to gain height. Every successful swing of the hammer that results in upward movement (e.g., 0:03–0:05, 0:37–0:40) is an example of the player adding potential energy to the character by increasing his vertical position. The long, tense pause from 0:26 to 0:34 shows the character at a high point, possessing significant stored potential energy before the next move.
For Teaching Point 2:
The most dramatic example occurs at 0:49, where a single mistake causes the character to lose his grip. All the potential energy gained during his climb is rapidly converted into kinetic energy as he plummets down the mountain. The narrator's line, "Oof, you lost a lot of progress," is a perfect, non-scientific summary of losing all that accumulated potential energy.
For Teaching Point 3:
The entire act of climbing is a demonstration of work. The player uses the hammer to hook onto surfaces and propel the character upwards. Each swing is an application of force over a distance, which transfers energy from the player into the character-cauldron system. This added energy is what allows the character's potential energy to increase, fighting against the constant downward pull of gravity. The failure to properly apply this force at 0:49 is what leads to the fall.
End of Lesson