Mechanical Energy Vocab

Front

What is kinetic energy?

Back

Kinetic energy is the energy an object possesses due to its motion.

Front

What does the law of conservation of energy state?

Back

The law of conservation of energy states that energy in a system remains constant; it cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.

Front

What type of energy is stored in a compressed spring?

Back

The energy stored in a compressed spring is called elastic potential energy.

Front

How does speed affect kinetic energy?

Back

Kinetic energy increases when the speed of an object increases.

Front

What is mechanical energy?

Back

Mechanical energy is the sum of an object's potential energy and kinetic energy.

Front

What is potential energy?

Back

Potential energy is the energy stored in an object due to its position or condition.

Front

What is the formula for kinetic energy?

Back

The formula for kinetic energy is KE = 1/2 mv², where m is mass and v is velocity.

Front

What is elastic potential energy?

Back

Elastic potential energy is the energy stored in elastic materials as the result of their stretching or compressing.

Front

What is gravitational potential energy?

Back

Gravitational potential energy is the energy an object possesses due to its height above the ground.

Front

What happens to energy in a closed system?

Back

In a closed system, energy can change forms but the total amount of energy remains constant.