Investigation 1.5 Energy Transfer and Transformation

Vocabulary terms and definitions from Investigation 1.5 on energy transfer, transformation, kinetic energy, potential energy, and thermodynamics.

Conservation of Energy

Energy may neither be created nor destroyed

Energy Transfer

The transfer of energy from one body to another

Energy Transformation

The process of changing energy from one form to another

Elastic PE

Potential energy stored as a result of deformation of an elastic object, such as the stretching of a spring

Gravitational PE

Energy an object possesses because of its position in a gravitational field

Kinetic Energy

Energy of motion

Potential Energy

The stored energy that a body possesses because of its position

Acoustical Energy

Converting sound energy into electrical energy

Electrical Energy

The presence and flow of an electric charge

Electromagnetic Radiation

A form of energy that exhibits wave-like behavior as it travels through space

Internal Energy

The energy associated with the random, disordered motion of molecules; the sum of both kinetic and potential energy

Molecular PE

Potential energy at the molecular level (i.e., gas inside a tied balloon)

Molecular KE

Kinetic energy at the molecular level (i.e., rising fog)

Heat

The thermal energy that flows form an object at a higher temperature to one at a lower temperature

Friction

The resistive force that opposes the motion or attempted motion of an object past another with which it is in contact, or through a fluid

Efficiency

The percent of the work put into a machine that is converted into useful work output