Potential Energy

What is Potential

Energy?

Understanding the Stored Energy of Still Objects

Classifing Energy

• To make energy easier to study, scientists classify energy into two categories:

  • Potential Energy

  • Kinetic Energy

• Potential energy is the energy in a still object.

• Kinetic energy is the energy of an object that is moving.

Multiple Choice

Scientists classify energy into:

• Permanent

  Temporary

• Landform

  Disruption

• Potential

  Kinetic

• Living

  Non-living

Dropdown

​

Select answer

energy is the energy in a still object,

but ​

Select answer

energy is the energy in a moving object.

Dropdown

Kinetic​ energy is the energy in a ​

Select answer

object,

but ​Potential energy is the energy in a ​

Select answer

object.

Increasing Kinetic Energy

• Kinetic energy is affected by two factors:

  • Speed

  • Mass

• The faster an object is moving, the more kinetic energy it has.

• The heavier an object is, the more kinetic energy it has.

Multiple Select

Which two factors affect kinetic energy?

(Pick 2!)

• Mass

• Height

• Speed

• Gravity

• Temperature

Multiple Choice

A faster object has ___ kinetic energy than a slower object.

• More

• Less

• The Same

Multiple Choice

Which train has more kinetic energy?

• The yellow train because it is faster.

• The yellow train because it has more mass.

• They have equal kinetic energy.

• The blue train because it is slower.

• The blue train because it has more mass.

Multiple Choice

A heavier object has ___ kinetic energy than a lighter object.

• More

• Less

• The Same

Multiple Choice

The football players run at the same speed.

Which player has more kinetic energy?

• The professional because he is faster.

• The child because he is slower.

• They have equal kinetic energy.

• The professional because he is heavier.

• The child because he is lighter.

Open Ended

"The two factors affecting kinetic energy are ___ and ___.

Kinetic energy is highest when objects are ___ or ___."

Types of Potential Energy

• Potential energy is stored energy in still objects. They have the potential to move.

• Potential energy can be:

  • Elastic - like a slingshot or bow and arrow

  • Chemical - like a battery or food

  • Gravitational - when an object is up high

• We will focus on gravitational potential energy.

Match

Match the following

• A rock sitting on a cliff

• A rock rolling down a hill

• A rubberband stretched to the limit

• A battery in a turned off radio

Gravitational Potential Energy

Kinetic Energy

Elastic Potential Energy

Chemical Potential Energy

• Gravitational Potential Energy

• Kinetic Energy

• Elastic Potential Energy

• Chemical Potential Energy

Multiple Choice

Although all types of energy are important, we will focus on ___ potential energy, which is the energy stored in objects raised up high.

• Gravitational

• Elastic

• Chemical

Potential Energy and Height

• Gravitational potential energy is affected by three factors:

  • Height

  • Mass

  • Gravity

• The higher an object is raised, the more potential energy it has.

Multiple Select

Which three factors affect gravitational potential energy?

(Pick 3!)

• Mass

• Height

• Speed

• Gravity

• Temperature

Multiple Choice

An object raised up high has ___ potential energy than a lower object.

• More

• Less

• The Same

Multiple Choice

Which ball has more potential energy?

• The blue ball

• The red ball

• They have equal potential energy

Multiple Choice

Why does the blue ball have more potential energy?

• It is raised higher.

• It is placed lower.

• It is heavier.

• It is lighter.

Multiple Choice

Which skier has less potential energy?

• Skier 2

• Skier 1

• They have equal potential energy

Multiple Choice

Why does skier 2 have less potential energy?

• They are heavier.

• They are lighter.

• They are higher up.

• They are lower down.

Open Ended

"I predict hot air balloon __ will have more potential energy because __.

Potential Energy and Mass

• Gravitational potential energy is affected by three factors:

  • Height

  • Mass

  • Gravity

• The heavier an object is, the more potential energy it has.

Multiple Choice

A heavier object has ___ potential energy than a lighter object.

• More

• Less

• The Same

Multiple Choice

Which animal has more potential energy?

• The elephant

• The mouse

• They have equal potential energy

Multiple Choice

Why does the elephant have more potential energy?

• It is higher.

• It is lower.

• It is heavier.

• It is lighter.

Multiple Choice

Which skier has less potential energy?

• Skier 2

• Skier 1

• They have equal potential energy

Multiple Choice

Why does skier 1 have less potential energy?

• They are heavier.

• They are lighter.

• They are higher.

• They are lower.

Open Ended

"I predict hot air balloon __ will have more potential energy because __.

Potential Energy and Gravity

• Gravitational potential energy is affected by three factors:

  • Height

  • Mass

  • Gravity

• The more gravity a location has,

  the more potential energy objects located there will have.

Multiple Choice

An object on a high-gravity planet has ___ potential energy than an object on a low-gravity planet.

• More

• Less

• The Same

Reorder

Reorder the following from lowest gravity (1) to highest gravity (4).

• Moon

• Earth

• Jupiter

• The Sun

1

2

3

4

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

Multiple Choice

A ball is sitting on an equally-tall hill on the Moon and on Jupiter.

Where will it have more potential energy?

• The Moon

• Jupiter

• The potential energy will be equal.

Multiple Choice

A ball is sitting on an equally-tall hill on the Moon and on Jupiter.

Why will it have more potential energy on Jupiter?

• It has more mass on Jupiter.

• Jupiter has more gravity.

• Jupiter has less gravity.

• The hill on Jupiter is taller.

Open Ended

"Three factors affecting potential energy are ___, ___, and ___.

Objects have the most potential energy when they are ___, ___, and ___."