Mechanical Energy Vocab

Front

What is mechanical energy?

Back

Mechanical energy is the sum of potential energy and kinetic energy in an object. It is the energy associated with the motion and position of an object.

Front

What is potential energy?

Back

Potential energy is the stored energy in an object due to its position or state. For example, a book on a shelf has gravitational potential energy.

Front

What is kinetic energy?

Back

Kinetic energy is the energy of an object in motion. The faster an object moves, the more kinetic energy it has.

Front

What is thermal energy?

Back

Thermal energy is the energy that comes from the temperature of an object. It is the total energy of all the particles in an object.

Front

What is electrical energy?

Back

Electrical energy is the energy caused by the movement of electrons. It is used to power devices like lights and appliances.

Front

What is chemical energy?

Back

Chemical energy is the energy stored in the bonds of chemical compounds, like food and batteries. It is released during a chemical reaction.

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, like in a rubber band.

Front

What happens to potential energy when an object is lifted?

Back

The potential energy of an object increases as it is lifted higher above the ground.

Front

What is the relationship between kinetic energy and speed?

Back

Kinetic energy increases with the square of the speed of an object. If the speed doubles, the kinetic energy increases by four times.

Front

What is the principle of conservation of energy?

Back

The principle of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another.