Gravitational Potential Energy, Kinetic Energy, and Elastic Potential Energy Plus Their Formulas

Gravitational Potential Energy

Gravitation Potential Energy- the energy an object posses due to its position in a gravitational field.

GPE can be found by @@multiplying the mass@@ and @@height of an object by “g”.@@

Formula:

GPE= mass * g (gravitational acceleration) * height

%%GPE=*m*g*h%%

The standard SI (System International) units for:

• Mass = kilograms (kg)
• g = “9.8” meters/second^2 (m/s^2)
• Height = meters (m)

Note: “g”- is the most common value of GPE for an object near the Earth’s surface where gravitational acceleration is estimated at a constant of 9.8 meters/second^2. “g” is always a constant!

^^GPE is measured in Joules (J).^^

Note: A joule is the amount of energy exerted when a force of one newton is applied over a displacement of one meter.

Kinetic Energy

Kinetic Energy- an object's energy due to being in motion.

KE is the product of @@half the object’s mass@@ and @@its velocity squared (v^2).@@

Formula:

KE= 1/2mass * velocity^2

%%KE= 1/2m*v^2%%

Velocity- the speed of an object in a given direction.

^^KE is measured in Joules (J).^^

Elastic Potential Energy

Elastic Potential Energy- energy stored as a result of applying a force onto an elastic object by stretching. For a shorter definition, it’s the energy stored in a spring.

EPE can be found by multiplying half of the spring constant by @@how much the object has been stretched or compressed.@@

Formula:

EPE= 1/2k (spring constant) * x (displacement)^2

%%EPE= 1/2k*x^2%%

“k”- the spring constant. Tells us how stiff the spring really is.

SI Units: Newtons/meters (N/m)

“x”- the displacement. How much the spring has been stretched or compressed.

SI Unit: Meter (m)

^^EPE is measured in Joules (J).^^