Energy and Collisions

Front

Energy Noun

---

[en-er-jee]

Back

Energy

---

The ability to cause change or do work, appearing in various forms like light, sound, motion, and heat.

---

Example: Newton's cradle shows energy transfer as moving balls cause others to move.

Front

Potential Energy Noun

---

[po-ten-shuhl en-er-jee]

Back

Potential Energy

---

The energy that is stored in an object based on its position, condition, or chemical composition.

---

Example: A boulder at the top of a hill has potential energy due to its elevated position.

Front

Kinetic Energy Noun

---

[ki-net-ik en-er-jee]

Back

Kinetic Energy

---

The energy an object possesses due to its motion, which increases with the object's mass and speed.

---

Example: A cyclist moving downhill gains kinetic energy as speed increases.

Front

Mass Noun

---

[mas]

Back

Mass

---

The measure of the amount of matter in an object, which affects its inertia and gravitational pull.

---

Example: A balance scale shows a feather and a rock, illustrating how mass affects gravitational pull.

Front

Speed Noun

---

[speed]

Back

Speed

---

The rate at which an object covers distance over a period of time, without regard to its direction.

---

Example: A car moving along a line with arrows shows how speed is calculated as distance divided by time.

Front

Force Noun

---

[fors]

Back

Force

---

A push or a pull on an object that can cause it to change its motion, speed, or direction.

---

Example: A person pushing a box shows how force can move an object.

Front

Gravity Noun

---

[grav-i-tee]

Back

Gravity

---

The natural force of attraction that exists between any two objects that have mass or energy.

---

Example: The image shows gravity as a force pulling two objects toward each other.

Front

Friction Noun

---

[frik-shuhn]

Back

Friction

---

A force that resists motion when the surfaces of two objects rub against each other, often creating heat.

---

Example: A box on a surface shows friction as a force resisting motion, with a close-up of the contact area.

Front

Thermal Energy Noun

---

[thur-muhl en-er-jee]

Back

Thermal Energy

---

The total kinetic energy of the tiny particles that make up matter, which is experienced as heat.

---

Example: Particles in a hot area move faster, transferring thermal energy to a cooler area.

Front

Collision Noun

---

[kuh-lizh-uhn]

Back

Collision

---

An event in which two or more objects come into forceful contact, resulting in an exchange of energy.

---

Example: Two objects collide with arrows showing direction, illustrating energy exchange in a collision.