Energy Terms & Units
The standard SI unit used to measure energy
What is a Joule (J)?
The form of potential energy stored in the chemical bonds of food, batteries, and fuels
What is chemical energy?
The energy an object possesses specifically because of its motion
What is kinetic energy?
At the very top of a swinging pendulum's arc right before it turns around, the pendulum has maximum ____ energy and zero ____ energy
What are potential energy and kinetic energy?
Calculate the potential energy of a 10 kg object sitting on a ledge 2 meters high
What is 196 Joules?
The scientific definition describing the ability to do work or cause change
What is energy?
When an electric toaster is plugged into an outlet and turned on, electrical energy transforms into these two main forms of energy
What are thermal (heat) energy and radiant (light) energy?
Stored energy an object has due to its position or height above the ground
What is gravitational potential energy?
As a skateboarder rolls down a ramp from the top to the bottom, potential energy decreases while kinetic energy does this
What is increases?
Calculate the kinetic energy of a 2 kg bowling ball rolling at a velocity of 4 m/s
What is 16 Joules?
This fundamental rule states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, only transformed from one form to another
What is the Law of Conservation of Energy?
The form of energy released during nuclear reactions inside the core of the sun or inside a power plant
What is nuclear energy?
Three identical books sit on three different bookshelves at heights of 1 meter, 2 meters, and 3 meters. The book with the greatest potential energy sits at this location
What is the highest shelf (3 meters)?
At the absolute lowest point of a pendulum's swing, the pendulum reaches its maximum value for this form of energy
What is kinetic energy?
An object has a weight of 49 N on Earth. If lifted to a height of 3 meters, calculate its GPE using Weight times Height
What is 147 Joules?
The standard scientific metric units used for mass (kg) and velocity (m/s) in energy formulas
What are kilograms and meters per second?
Electromagnetic waves traveling across space from the sun to Earth are an example of this form of energy
What is radiant energy?
The two physical variables required to calculate an object's kinetic energy
What are mass and velocity (speed)?
Assuming no friction, as potential energy transforms into kinetic energy during motion, total mechanical energy does this
What is remains constant / stays the same?
A flying drone has 50 J of potential energy and 30 J of kinetic energy. Calculate its total mechanical energy
What is 80 Joules?
The unit used to measure force or weight, calculated by multiplying mass by Earth's gravity
What are Newtons (N)?
The total sum of an object's potential energy and kinetic energy combined
What is mechanical energy?
The three variables multiplied together to calculate Gravitational Potential Energy (GPE) on Earth
What are mass, gravity, and height?
A rock held at the edge of a cliff has 150 J of potential energy. Right before it strikes the ground at the bottom, its kinetic energy will equal this amount
What is 150 Joules?
A resting 4 kg cat on a wall has 117.6 J of potential energy. Calculate the height of the wall
What is 3 meters?