Energy Basics
What is energy?
the ability to cause change in matter.
Name two forms of energy discussed in the past two weeks.
motion, heat, light, sound, electrical, or chemical energy.
What is a collision?
When two objects bump or run into each other.
If two objects have the same weight, which has more motion energy: the faster or slower one? Why?
The faster-moving object because the faster an object moves, the more motion energy it has and the more energy it can transfer during a collision.
What type of energy is produced when a gong vibrates and makes noise?
Sound energy
What word describes an object that is moving?
Motion
What type of energy does a rolling soccer ball have?
Motion/kinetic energy
What transfers between objects during a collision?
Energy
At the same speed, which has more kinetic energy: a heavy truck or a small car?
The heavy truck.
When a moving object's energy changes into warmth during a collision, what form of energy is produced?
thermal energy
What is a stationary object?
An object that is not moving.
What kind of energy is stored in a stretched rubber band?
Stored energy that can become motion/kinetic energy when released.
What happens to bowling pins when a bowling ball collides with them?
Energy transfers from the bowling ball to the pins, causing them to move or fall.
Why does a faster bowling ball generally knock pins with more impact than a slower one of the same weight?
It has more kinetic energy that can transfer to the pins.
Why do engineers use crumple zones in cars?
To absorb energy during a collision and reduce the impact on passengers.
What is electrical current?
A flow of electric charges along a path.
What happens to stored energy when a compressed spring releases and pushes an object?
Stored energy is transferred and becomes motion/kinetic energy.
In the Generation Genius video, how does a moving baseball bat make the ball fly?
The bat collides with the ball and transfers energy to it.
A baseball and a table tennis ball are dropped from the same height into a pan of flour. Which ball will make a larger crater, and why?
The baseball will make a larger crater because it is heavier and has more motion energy to transfer when it hits the flour.
Why might a bounced ball rise to a lower height than where it was dropped?
Some energy transfers to the surroundings and changes into forms such as sound and heat.
What is a Rube Goldberg machine?
A complex machine that performs a simple task through a series of steps.
How does a Rube Goldberg machine transfer energy from one moving part to another?
Through a chain reaction, often involving collisions that set other parts in motion.
A cue ball strikes a group of pool balls. Describe two changes that might happen.
The cue ball can slow down or change direction, while the other balls begin moving in different directions.
Why does the faster collision in the Generation Genius video make Izzy move farther?
More speed means more kinetic energy is available to transfer during the collision.
During a collision, some motion energy changes into two other forms of energy. What are they?
Sound energy and heat energy.