Potential Energy
Define potential energy
Stored energy.
Define kinetic energy
Energy of motion
What type of energy do plants use in photosynthesis?
Chemical potential energy
What is gravitational potential energy?
Potential energy due to its position
What happens to the solar energy taken from plants?
Light energy is converted the chemical energy
When you throw a ball into the air when does it have the most potential energy?
At the top
If you mix baking soda and vinegar together and place a stopper in the bottle the stopper will shoot into the air. Is this an example of kinetic energy? Why or why not?
Yes - chemical energy is transformed into kinetic energy with the movement of the stopper and air
What type of energy is stored in gasoline?
Chemical energy
What is an example of gravitational potential energy?
Examples: stretched rubber band, rock resting on top of a hill, rock rolling down a hill
When you drive a car, not all the chemical energy in gasoline is transformed into useful kinetic energy. What happens to it?
Some of the initial amount of energy is converted to waste thermal energy.
Explain what happens to the energy of a rubber band when you stretch it back and let it go.
Potential energy is converted to kinetic energy
At what position does a falling object have the GREATEST kinetic energy?
Right before it hits the ground (when it is still moving)
A waterfall is an example of what type of energy?
Kinetic energy
If a roller coaster is moving, when will it have the greatest potential energy?
At the highest point on the track
What is the law of conservation of energy?
Energy cannot be created or destroyed but can change from one form to another.
Elastic potential energy is energy stored in an object due to the object being stretched or compressed. Where does a slinky have the least amount of elastic energy?
When it is at rest (not compressed or stretched)
A 4 kg object is moving at a speed of 5 m/s. How much kinetic energy does the object have?
50 joules
Riding a bike would be an example of what form of energy?
Mechanical energy
Which will yield the most potential energy -rolling a ball up a ramp to the top of a hill or lifting the ball up to the top of the hill?
They will both yield the same amount of potential energy
What energy conversion happens when you light a match?
Chemical energy into light and heat
What is the potential energy of a 5 kg plant placed 8 meters above the ground?
392 Newtons
A book is pushed off of a table. At what point are the kinetic and potential energy equal?
Halfway down
What form of energy is stored in the center of an atom?
Nuclear energy
A sloth increases its gravitational potential energy by climbing to the top of a tree. What happens to that potential energy if he climbs back down halfway?
It will decrease by half
Which energy conversion occurs when a battery-operated alarm goes off?
Chemical energy to electrical energy to sound energy