Energy Stores and Systems

Flashcards covering definitions of energy stores, energy transfer pathways, and types of physical systems.

System

An object or a group of objects; whenever anything changes within it, energy is transferred between its stores or to the surroundings.

Closed system

A system where no energy can enter from or escape to the surroundings, meaning the total energy never changes.

Kinetic energy store

The energy an object has because it is moving.

Gravitational potential energy store

The energy an object has because of its height above the ground.

Elastic potential energy store

The energy an elastic object has when it is stretched or compressed.

Thermal (or internal) energy store

The energy an object has because of its temperature, defined as the total kinetic and potential energy of the particles in the object.

Chemical energy store

Energy that can be transferred by chemical reactions involving foods, fuels, and the chemicals in batteries.

Nuclear energy store

Energy stored in the nucleus of an atom.

Magnetic energy store

The energy a magnetic object has when it is near a magnet or in a magnetic field.

Electrostatic energy store

The energy a charged object has when near another charged object.

Heating (energy transfer)

A pathway where energy is transferred from one object to another object with a lower temperature.

Waves (energy transfer)

A pathway where radiation (such as light and sound waves) transfers energy.

Electricity (energy transfer)

A pathway where energy is transferred when an electric current flows.

Forces / Mechanical work (energy transfer)

A pathway where energy is transferred when a force moves or changes the shape of an object.