Energy Stores and Transfers Vocabulary

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to energy stores and transfers.

Gravitational Potential Energy

The energy an object possesses due to its height above the ground. The higher the object, the greater the gravitational potential energy. Example: Book on bookshelf

Elastic Potential Energy

Energy stored in objects that are stretched or squashed. Example: Stretched rubber band

Chemical Energy

Energy stored in chemical bonds. Example: Fuel, Food, Battery

Kinetic Energy

Energy stored in moving objects. The faster the object moves, the higher the kinetic energy. Example: Kicking a football, airplane flying

Magnetic Energy

Energy stored in magnetic objects, which can attract or repel. Example: Magnets

Electrostatic Energy

Energy stored in charged particles. Example: Lightning, Van der Graaf generator

Nuclear Energy

Energy stored in the mass of the nucleus of an atom (splitting atom). Example: Uranium

Thermal Energy

The hotter the object, the higher the thermal store. Example: Metals heat up faster, Any hot object

Heating (Energy Transfer)

Transfer of energy resulting in a change in thermal energy.

Electrical (Energy Transfer)

Transfer of energy via moving electric charges.

Radiation (Energy Transfer)

Transfer of energy via electromagnetic waves (e.g., light).

Mechanical (Energy Transfer)

Transfer of energy through forces causing movement or displacement.

Gravitational Potential Energy (Definition Recap)

Stored gravitational potential energy in a position/height.

Elastic Potential Energy (Definition Recap)

Stored elastic potential energy when things like rubber band is stretched/squashed

Kinetic Energy (Definition Recap)

Energy stored in an object when moving. The faster the object moves, the higher the kinetic energy.

Chemical Store (Definition Recap)

Energy stored in chemical bonds

Electrical energy vs electrostatic store (Definition Recap)

Electrical energy is a transfer: Energy in flowing electrons Electrostatic is a store: Energy in charged particles

Light energy (Definition Recap)

A form of energy that is visible to our eyes. An electromagnetic radiation

Sound energy (Definition Recap)

Caused by vibration of particles

Heat energy vs Thermal store (Definition Recap)

Heat is a mode of transfer: Energy flowing through hot objects Thermal is a store: Energy stored in hot objects.

Law of Conservation of Energy

Energy is never created or destroyed, it can only be transferred.

Wasted Energy

Energy that is not useful and is dissipated to the surroundings (absorbed into wall, ground, or air).

Efficiency

The proportion of total energy input that is converted into useful energy output. Efficiency = (Useful energy output / Total energy input) x 100%