Tues March 23 What is Potential Energy?

Tues March 23 What is Potential Energy?

What is Potential Energy

Yesterday we learned about kinetic or moving energy. Today we will learn about potential energy.

Multiple Choice

When a roller coaster is at the top of a hill it has

• high potential energy

• high kinetic energy

• low potential energy

• equal amounts of kinetic and potential energy

Potential Energy

Energy is the ability to do work or cause change.

There are two kinds of energy – kinetic energy when something is moving, and potential energy, which is energy that is stored and ready to be used.

All objects have potential energy or stored energy if they are placed in a certain position.

Multiple Choice

What kind of energy is in a rock at the edge of a cliff?

• Potential

• Kinetic

• Both potential and kinetic energy

• none of the above

How is it stored?

How potential energy is stored depends on whether it is chemical, electrical, or physical energy. Potential energy remains stored until the situation changes and the energy is released.

When an object is safe from being changed, it is said to be in its equal position and it has no potential energy. This is the position it has when no force is acting on it. It just sits there and does not move.

There are various kinds of potential energy but the most commonly referred to in physics are gravitational potential energy and elastic potential energy.

Multiple Choice

Which is the best synonym for potential energy?

• Stored energy

• Energy of motion

• Energy due to gravity

• Mechanical energy

Gravitational Potential Energy = Gravity

Gravitational potential energyThis is the stored energy in an object according to its vertical position or height.

Gravity is acting on the object and this energy depends on the size of the object and the height of the object.

Two things cause the potential energy to change (increase or decrease).

The larger the object the greater the mass – and the greater the potential energy. The greater the height at which the object is above ground, the greater the potential energy.

Multiple Choice

At which point on the roller coaster is the gravitational potential energy the greatest?

• W

• X

• Y

• Z

Multiple Choice

At which position does the child on the swing have the most gravitational potential energy?

• W

• X

• Y

• Z

Multiple Choice

You throw a ball into the air as shown in the diagram. At what point does the ball have the most gravitational potential energy?

• W

• X

• Y

• Z

Multiple Choice

At which point does the ball has the greatest gravitational potential energy (GPE)?

• A

• G

• D

• C

• G

Elastic Potential Energy

Elastic potential energyThis is the energy stored in something that has elasticity, where the object can stretch and compress.

Balloons, rubber bands, bungees and trampolines all have elastic potential energy.

How far the object stretches determines the amount of elastic potential energy. The greater the potential stretch, the greater the amount of elastic potential energy.

Multiple Choice

The diagram shows the same spring being stretched at different lengths using different masses. At which length does the spring have the MOST potential energy?

• length A

• length B

• length C

• length D

Multiple Choice

Elastic potential energy is energy stored in an object, such as a spring, due to the object being stretched or compressed. In which position is it most likely that the spring has lost its elastic potential energy?

• W

• Y

• X

• Z

Poll

How confident are you in explaining potential energy to others? Your name will not be shown on this response.

• I got this! I can explain it with pictures and words.

• I may need extra help.

• I need this retaught to me.