Potential & Kinetic Energy Interactive Lesson

Multiple Choice

Which law states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only changes from one form to another?

• Law of Conservation of Energy

• Newton's First Law

• Law of Thermodynamics

• Law of Gravity

Multiple Choice

Potential energy is measured in ___ (SI unit).

• Newtons

• Inches

• Joules

• Liters

Open Ended

Explain how the height and mass of an object affect its gravitational potential energy. Use examples from the diagrams to support your answer.

Multiple Select

Which of the following scenarios would decrease the amount of gravitational potential energy an object has?

• Move the object closer to the ground

• Increase the mass of the object

• Increase the distance from the object to the ground

• Move the object to a place with less gravitational pull

Fill in the Blanks

Which ball has the greatest speed?

Fill in the Blanks

Which ball has the greatest kinetic energy?

Multiple Choice

What determines the kinetic energy of an object?

• height and mass

• speed and mass

• gravity and height

• speed and gravity

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between potential energy and kinetic energy as shown in the bouncing ball diagram?

• Potential energy is always greater than kinetic energy.

• Kinetic energy is always greater than potential energy.

• Potential energy decreases as kinetic energy increases.

• Kinetic energy and potential energy remain constant.

Multiple Choice

Which position of the pendulum (A, B, or C) has the maximum kinetic energy and minimum potential energy?

• A

• B

• C

• All positions have equal energy

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements about potential and kinetic energy is correct based on the Venn diagram?

• Potential energy is energy of motion.

• Kinetic energy is stored energy.

• Both potential and kinetic energy can transform into other forms of energy.

• Potential energy increases as motion increases.

Multiple Choice

At the top of the roller coaster, the potential energy is ___ and the kinetic energy is zero.

• 100

• 50

• 0

• 75

Multiple Choice

Which of the following situations is an example of kinetic energy?

• Standing on the end of a diving board

• Falling from the top of a ladder

• A rubber band pulled back as far as it can go

• Water in a lake behind a dam

Multiple Choice

Which situation best demonstrates the transformation from potential energy to kinetic energy?

• Standing on the end of a diving board and then jumping off

• A bobsled moving at its greatest speed around the final turn

• A basketball sitting on the rim before falling into the hoop

• A satellite orbiting the Earth

Fill in the Blanks

A slingshot that has been pulled back, but has not been let go, is an example of

energy.

Multiple Select

Identify all the situations that represent potential energy from the list below: A baseball has reached its highest point after being hit towards the top of the stadium. A satellite that is orbiting the Earth at nearly 20,000 miles/hour. A cliff diver is just about to jump off an 18m high cliff. A girl is swinging and she is at her highest point of the swing.

• A baseball has reached its highest point after being hit towards the top of the stadium.

• A satellite that is orbiting the Earth at nearly 20,000 miles/hour.

• A cliff diver is just about to jump off an 18m high cliff.

• A girl is swinging and she is at her highest point of the swing.

Open Ended

Compare and contrast potential and kinetic energy.