4.5 - PE/KE Calculations Notes

Unit 7: Power & Energy
Lesson 5: PE/KE Calculations

Vocabulary

•  chemical energy – a form of energy that is stored in the bonds between atoms in a compound

•  elastic potential energy – energy that is stored when an elastic object is stretched or compressed

•  gravitational potential energy – a form of potential energy that is stored in an object

•  kinetic energy – energy according to its location in a gravitational field in motion

•  potential energy – energy an object has due to its position, condition, or shape

Example:

An 8 kg bowling ball is rolling down the street at 15 m/s. What is the kinetic energy of this bowling ball?

Gravitational PE Calculations

• The higher an object is raised, the greater the GPE will be

• Direct relationship between height and the GPE of an object

• Free-fall acceleration on Earth is 9.8 m/s²

Example: