Investigating Potential Energy

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Energy Noun

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[en-er-jee]

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Energy

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A fundamental property that can be transferred or converted in form, representing the capacity of a physical system to perform work.

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Example: Chemical energy in the battery is converted to electrical energy, which flows through the circuit to produce light and heat energy in the bulb.

Front

Kinetic Energy Noun

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

Back

Kinetic Energy

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The energy an object possesses due to its motion, proportional to its mass and the square of its speed.

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Example: A soccer ball moving through the air has kinetic energy because it is an object in motion.

Front

Potential Energy Noun

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

Back

Potential Energy

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The stored energy a system of objects has because of their relative positions, configuration, or internal state.

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Example: A diver at the peak of their jump has stored potential energy because of their height above the water.

Front

Convert Verb

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[kuhn-vurt]

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Convert

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To change or transform from one form, state, or character into another, such as energy changing from potential to kinetic.

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Example: This diagram shows an electric generator converting mechanical energy (the spinning wire coil) into electrical energy, which lights up the bulb.

Front

Transfer Verb

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[trans-fur]

Back

Transfer

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To move from one place, object, or system to another, often referring to the movement of energy between interacting objects.

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Example: This diagram shows the transfer of heat energy, which always flows from a hotter object to a colder object.

Front

Force Noun

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[fors]

Back

Force

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An interaction, such as a push or a pull, that can change an object's motion or cause a transfer of energy.

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Example: This icon shows a person applying a force (a push) to an object, with the arrow indicating the direction of the force.

Front

Attract Verb

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[uh-trakt]

Back

Attract

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To exert a force that pulls objects toward each other, as seen between opposite poles of magnets or planetary bodies.

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Example: The opposite poles of two magnets (North and South) pull toward each other, demonstrating the force of attraction.

Front

Repel Verb

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[ri-pel]

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Repel

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To exert a force that pushes objects away from each other, as observed between like poles of two magnets.

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Example: This image shows that when the similar poles of two magnets (North and North) are brought close, a magnetic force pushes them apart.

Front

Magnetic Field Noun

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[mag-net-ik feeld]

Back

Magnetic Field

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A region of space surrounding a magnetic object where a magnetic force can be detected and energy can be stored.

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Example: This diagram shows the invisible magnetic field around a bar magnet, with arrows indicating the force flows from the North to the South pole.

Front

System Noun

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[sis-tuhm]

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System

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A collection of interacting objects or components that are studied and treated as a single entity for analysis or modeling.

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Example: This diagram shows a 'System' (the part being studied), its 'Boundary' (what separates it), and the 'Surroundings' (everything else outside).