Conservation of Energy

This set of flashcards covers essential concepts related to the conservation of energy, energy stores, and energy transfers.

Energy Store

An energy store is a system that holds energy, similar to a bucket that can be filled or emptied.

Kinetic Energy Store

The energy store that holds energy from motion; anything moving has energy here.

Thermal Energy Store

The energy stored in an object due to its temperature; the hotter an object is, the more energy it has stored.

Chemical Energy Store

The energy stored in substances that can be released through chemical reactions, e.g. food and fuels.

Gravitational Potential Energy Store

Energy stored in an object due to its position in a gravitational field; any object with mass in a field has this energy.

Elastic Potential Energy Store

The energy stored in an object when it is stretched or compressed, like springs.

Electrostatic Energy Store

Energy stored in charged objects due to their electric charge interactions.

Magnetic Energy Store

The energy stored in magnets interacting with other magnets.

Nuclear Energy Store

Energy stored in atomic nuclei that can be released during nuclear reactions.

Closed System

A system that does not allow energy transfer in or out; total energy remains constant.

Work Done

The energy transferred when a force moves an object through a distance.

Conservation of Energy Principle

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or converted from one form to another.

Dissipation of Energy

The process where energy is transferred to less useful forms, often as thermal energy to the surroundings.

Mechanical Energy Transfer

Energy transferred through forces acting on an object, such as pushing or pulling.

Electrical Energy Transfer

Energy transferred when electric charge flows through a potential difference.

Energy Transfer by Heating

Energy transferred from a hotter object to a colder object.

Energy Transfer by Radiation

Energy transferred through waves, such as light energy from the sun.