Physics Fast Facts: Work and Energy

Front

What is power in physics?

Back

Power is the rate at which work is done or energy is transferred, often expressed as P = Fv, where P is power, F is force, and v is velocity.

Front

What type of energy is stored by a spring?

Back

Elastic potential energy is the energy stored in a spring when it is compressed or stretched.

Front

What is microscopic internal energy?

Back

Microscopic internal energy refers to the energy associated with the temperature of an object, which is stored in the vibrations of its molecules.

Front

What is a conservative force?

Back

A conservative force is a force that converts potential energy into other forms of mechanical energy when it does work, such as gravitational force.

Front

What does internal energy refer to?

Back

Internal energy refers to the energy stored in a multi-object system based on the arrangement of the objects within that system.

Front

What is work in physics?

Back

Work is done when a force causes an object to move in the direction of the force, calculated as W = Fd, where W is work, F is force, and d is displacement.

Front

What is kinetic energy?

Back

Kinetic energy is the energy of an object due to its motion, calculated as KE = 1/2 mv², where m is mass and v is velocity.

Front

What is gravitational potential energy?

Back

Gravitational potential energy is the energy an object possesses due to its position in a gravitational field, calculated as PE = mgh, where m is mass, g is acceleration due to gravity, and h is height.

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.

Front

What is the difference between potential energy and kinetic energy?

Back

Potential energy is stored energy based on an object's position, while kinetic energy is the energy of an object in motion.