Kinetic Energy
What is kinetic energy?
The energy an object has due to its motion.
What is potential energy?
The energy stored in an object due to its position or arrangement.
100: What is mechanical energy?
Answer: The sum of kinetic and potential energy in a system.
100: What is thermal energy?
Answer: The energy that comes from the temperature of matter; it is the total kinetic energy of the particles in a substance.
100: What is chemical energy?
The energy stored in the bonds of chemical compounds.
200: What happens to the kinetic energy of a car when it speeds up?
Answer: The kinetic energy increases as the speed increases.
200: What type of potential energy is related to an object’s height?
Answer: Gravitational potential energy
200: If a roller coaster is at the top of a hill, what type of energy is at its maximum?
Answer: Potential energy
200: How does thermal energy relate to temperature?
Answer: Higher temperature means higher thermal energy due to faster particle movement.
What is nuclear energy?
Answer: The energy released during nuclear fission or fusion.
300: Give an example of an object that has kinetic energy.
Answer: A rolling ball or a moving car.
300: What happens to potential energy when an object is lifted higher?
Answer: The potential energy increases as height increases.
300: How does the mechanical energy change as a roller coaster goes down a hill?
Answer: Potential energy decreases and kinetic energy increases, keeping mechanical energy constant (ignoring friction).
300: Give an example of a situation where thermal energy is produced.
Answer: Friction when rubbing hands together.
Give an example of a substance that contains chemical energy.
Answer: Food, batteries, or gasoline.
400: How does the mass of an object affect its kinetic energy?
Answer: Greater mass increases kinetic energy if speed remains the same.
400: Describe elastic energy.
The potential energy stored in an elastic material when it is stretched or compressed.
400: What happens to the total mechanical energy of a closed system?
Answer: It remains constant if no external forces do work on it
400: What happens to thermal energy when ice melts?
Answer: Thermal energy increases as heat is absorbed, causing the ice to change to water.
400: Explain the difference between fission and fusion.
Answer: Fission splits heavy atomic nuclei; fusion combines light atomic nuclei
Write the formula for calculating kinetic energy.
1/2 mv^2
500: Explain the difference between kinetic energy and potential energy.
Kinetic energy is energy of motion; potential energy is stored energy based on position.
500: Calculate the mechanical energy if an object has 20 J of kinetic energy and 30 J of potential energy.
Answer: Total mechanical energy is 50 J (20 J + 30 J).
500: Explain how thermal energy can be transferred.
Through conduction, convection, and radiation.
500: What are some benefits and risks of using nuclear energy?
Benefits: large energy output, low greenhouse gas emissions; Risks: radioactive waste, potential for accidents.