Energy Conservation
What is potential energy?
Stored energy due to an object's position or arrangement.
What energy transformations occur in a lamp?
electrical-->light & themal
State the Law of Conservation of Energy
Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed; total energy remains constant.
What role do producers play in energy flow within ecosystems?
Producers convert solar energy into chemical energy via photosynthesis, forming the base of the food web.
What distinguishes an experiment from an observational study?
Experiments manipulate variables to test hypotheses; observational studies collect data without interference.
How does mass affect kinetic energy?
Kinetic increases when mass increases
Explain the energy transformations in a battery-powered flashlight.
Chemical energy in the battery transforms into electrical energy, then into light and thermal energy.
How does a bouncing ball demonstrate energy conservation?
Energy alternates between kinetic and potential; some is transformed as thermal and sound energy due to friction and impact.
How do primary and secondary consumers differ in the way they acquire energy?
Primary consumers eat producers; secondary consumers eat other consumers, transferring energy up the trophic levels.
Why are controlled variables important in experiments?
They ensure that only the independent variable affects the outcome, increasing reliability.
Describe a scenario where gravitational potential anergy transforms into kinetic energy
A roller coaster on the top of a hill has gravitational potential energy that converts to kinetic energy as it descends
What transformations occur when a person eats food and then runs?
Chemical energy from food is converted into mechanical energy for movement and thermal energy for body heat.
A solar-powered car drives down the road. Describe the sequence of energy transformations that allow the car to move.
Solar energy is converted into electrical energy by solar panels. The electrical energy powers the motor, which converts it into mechanical energy to move the car. Some energy is also transformed into heat due to friction and resistance.
What is the ecological role of decomposers in energy cycling?
Decomposers break down dead organisms, releasing nutrients and recycling energy back into the ecosystem.
What criteria make a source reliable for scientific research?
Peer-reviewed, evidence-based, current, and authored by experts in the field.
When does kinetic energy transfer to potential energy in a pendulum?
kinetic energy is highest when the pendulum is at the bottom and tranfers to potential as it gets higher
A pendulum is released from a height and swings back and forth. Describe how energy is conserved throughout its motion, including the role of friction and air resistance.
he pendulum’s energy shifts between gravitational potential energy at the highest points and kinetic energy at the lowest point. Over time, friction and air resistance convert some mechanical energy into thermal energy, but the total energy remains constant.
plain how energy transformations occur in a wind turbine and how this relates to the conservation of energy.
Wind (kinetic energy) turns the blades, converting kinetic energy into mechanical energy. This mechanical energy is then transformed into electrical energy by a generator. No energy is lost—it's just transformed, with some dissipated as heat and soun
Construct a food web and identify energy transfer paths.
Example: Sun → grass → rabbit → fox → decomposer;
What makes a scientific conclusion valid and defensible?
It must be supported by reproducible data, logical reasoning, and alignment with existing evidence.
Explain how friction plays a role in the law of conservation of energy
Energy transforms between kinetic and potential energy. Over time, friction slows it down transferring the energy to thermal energy. Total energy remains the same.
diver jumps off a platform into a pool. Identify and explain the energy transformations that occur from the moment they jump to when they hit the water.
The diver starts with gravitational potential energy, which transforms into kinetic energy as they fall. Upon impact, some kinetic energy is transferred to the water (splash and waves), and some is converted into sound and thermal energy.
How does heating water in a closed container with an electric coil show energy conservation?
Electrical energy becomes thermal energy, heating the water. As molecules move faster, some turn to steam. No energy is lost—it's just transformed.
Analyze how energy "waste" at each trophic level affects population sizes.
Only ~10% of energy transfers to the next level; higher trophic levels have fewer organisms due to energy limitations.
student wants to test how different types of soil affect plant growth. They set up three pots with different soils and measure plant height weekly. What type of investigation is this? What is the IV and DV?
This is an experiment because it involves manipulating the independent variable (soil type) and measuring the dependent variable (plant growth).