Unit 3 Energy and Wave Mechanics Review

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering potential and kinetic energy, forms of potential energy, energy transfers and transformations, the Law of Conservation of Energy, and transverse versus longitudinal waves.

Potential Energy

Energy at rest.

Kinetic Energy

Energy in motion.

Gravitational Potential Energy

The energy of an item falling because of gravity; it increases the higher the object is from Earth's surface and the more mass the object has.

Elastic Potential Energy

Stored energy found in objects like a stretched rubber band, a stretched out bow string, or a compressed spring; it increases the farther a rubber band is stretched or a spring is compressed.

Chemical Potential Energy

Energy stored in food, batteries, and gasoline that transforms into other forms such as mechanical, electrical, sound, or heat energy.

Energy Transfer

How energy moves throughout a system (for example, in a circuit: battery → wires → bulb).

Energy Transformation

How energy changes throughout a system (for example, in a circuit: chemical → electrical → radiant/thermal).

Law of Conservation of Energy

A principle stating that you cannot create nor destroy energy; you can only transfer it from one form to another.

Longitudinal Wave

A wave where energy moves forward through the wave from source to receiver as the medium (object) vibrates back and forth.

Transverse Wave

A wave where energy moves forward through the wave from source to receiver as the medium (object) moves up and down.

Position A (Top of Ramp)

The point on the ramp where a skateboarder has the greatest potential energy and least kinetic energy.

Position B (Bottom of Ramp)

The point on the ramp where a skateboarder has the least potential energy and greatest kinetic energy.

Mass & Speed Analysis (Ramp)

The relationship stating that more mass equals more kinetic energy; a heavier skateboarder dropped from the exact same height at Position A will have more kinetic energy at Position B than a lighter skateboarder.

Sound Energy Propagation

The process where vibrating particles push into neighboring particles back and forth in place—like a line of falling dominoes—transferring energy to the receiver without the particles traveling across the room.

Transverse Wave Ribbon Demonstration

A demonstration where a ribbon tied to a jump rope moves up and down and stays in place while energy travels forward from Partner A (source) to Partner B (receiver).

Longitudinal Wave Slinky Demonstration

A demonstration where a ribbon tied to a single coil of a slinky moves back and forth and bounces back to its original starting point while energy travels from Partner A (source) to Partner B (receiver).