Physics

Non-renewable energy source

Energy source that is limited and cannot be replaced

Nuclear, fossil fuels

Renewable energy source

Energy source that is continually and infinitely available

Solar, wind, water, geothermal, tidal, biomass

Perfect Machine

Hypothetical machine in which all the input energy is converted completely into mechanical energy

Second law of thermodynamics

Heat always flows naturally from a hot object to a cold object

Never naturally from a cold object to a hot object

First law of thermodynamics

The total energy, including heat, in a system and its surroundings remains constant

Isolated System

Cannot exchange either matter or energy with its surroundings

Example of a closed system

Closed can of soup

Closed system

Cannot exchange matter but can exchange energy with its surroundings

Example of an open system

Earth

Open system

System that exchanges both matter and energy with its surroundings

An energy conversion in technological systems

Hydro-electric dams convert the energy of moving water into electricity

An energy conversion in natural systems

The hydrogen-hydrogen nuclear fusion reaction that occurs at the center of the sun

Law of conservation of energy

That the total amount of energy in a given situation remains constant, energy can be converted but the total amount never changes

Elastic potential energy

Energy stored in an object has its shape changed by stretching, twisting, or compressing

Potential energy

Energy that is stored and held in the readiness, energy that has the potential to do work

Thermodynamics

Study of the interrelationships between heat, work, and energy

Heat

Energy transferred from an object at a higher temperature to one at a lower temperature

Thermal energy

The amount of energy possessed by a substance by virtue of the kinetic energy of its molecules or atoms

Mechanical energy

Energy due to the motion and position of an object

Gravitational potential energy

An object raised above the Earth’s surface has the potential to do work because of its position

Things with kinetic energy

Flowing water, wind, any object in motion

Solar energy

Energy from the sun

Generated by a hydrogen-hydrogen nuclear fusion reaction

Nuclear energy

Potential energy stored in the nucleus of an atom

Electrical energy

Work done by moving charges

Energy produced by electrons

Chemical energy

Potential energy stored in the chemical bonds of compounds

Energy

The ability to do work

Work

A measure of the amount of energy transferred from one object to another when an object moved against an opposing force or the speed of an object increases

Velocity

Speed and direction of an object

Motion

The changing position in an object relative to a reference point

Uniform motion

Movement in a straight line at a constant speed

Rule for total mechanical energy

For any object that is in motion, the total mechanical energy stays the same as long as there are no effects from friction

Total mechanical energy

The sum of potential energy and kinetic energy at any given time

Energy efficiency

A measure of how much energy is converted into another form

Vector quantity

A quantity that has a magnitude and a direction

EX: 30 m/s East

Scalar quantity

A quantity that only has a magnitude, only a numer

EX: 5m

Kinetic energy

Related to the speed at which something is moving

Energy of motion

Acceleration

The velocity of an object changes during a time interval

Speed calculation

By knowing the distance traveled and the time required travelling that distance

Kinematics

The study of motion

Uses the measurements of distance and time

Position

A vector quantity

Refers to a specific point relative to a reference point

Displacement

A vector quantity

Refers to an objects change in position

Distance

A scalar quantity

Refers to how much ground something has covered