Energy Study Guide

What is energy?

The ability to do work or cause a change in matter

What is potential energy?

Stored energy "waiting" to be used; depends on how high up or what shape an object is in.

What is kinetic energy?

The energy an object has due to its motion

What are the different forms of energy?

Mechanical Energy, thermal, electrical, light (Radiant), sound, elastic, gpe, chemical, nuclear

Example of form of energy

Mechanical Energy - moving car - both pe and ke

Thermal (Heat) - Boiling water - KE

Chemical Energy - Battery - PE

Electrical Energy - lightning - PE

Light (Radiant) - sunlight - KE

Sound Energy - Music from speakers - KE

Nuclear Energy - energy in atom - PE

Gravitational - Tree - PE

Elastic - elastic hair tie stretched - PE

What is an energy source?

An energy source is something we use to get energy.

What is the difference between a renewable source and nonrenewable?

Renewable - Energy source that can be used over and over again

Nonrenewable - Energy source that once used cannot be replaced for millions of years

What is fossil fuel? Give examples.

Made from the remains of anicent dead plants or animals

Coal, gas, petroleum, propane

Can you name all the renewable energy sources? Nonrenewable?

Renewable - Hydropower, solar, wind, biomass, geothermal

Nonrenewable - Coal, petroleum, uranium, propane, gas

What is the difference between an energy transfer and an energy transformation? Can you give an example of each?

Energy transfer - movement of energy from one location to another (heat from hand transferring to ice cream, making it melt.)

Energy transformation - energy changes from another form to another (PE at the top transform to KE while going down on a rollercoaster)

What does the Law of Conservation of Energy state?

States energy cannot be created or destroyed, only recycled into another form

What is kinetic energy? How do mass and speed affect an object’s KE?

Energy an object has due to its motion

If mass increases KE increases

If speed increase KE increases more

What variables affect an object’s GPE? How do GPE and KE convert back and forth

on a roller coaster track? A skate park? A pendulum?

Mass and height and gravity

At the highest point, 100% PE 0% KE, going down half and half PE and KE, near bottom —> 95% KE 5% PE. It repeats these steps until air resistance (wind pushing against it) and thermal energy (friction rubbing against it) loses the motion