Understanding Potential Energy

What is the simplest definition of energy?

• The ability to generate heat

• The ability to create matter

• The ability to do work

• The ability to produce light

What are the three particles that make up an atom?

• Neutrons, quarks, and gluons

• Electrons, photons, and quarks

• Protons, neutrons, and photons

• Protons, neutrons, and electrons

Which mineral is used in nuclear power plants to generate electricity?

• Copper

• Uranium

• Iron

• Gold

What holds molecules together in chemical energy?

• Nuclear energy

• Magnetic force

• Chemical energy

• Gravitational force

Which of the following is a common source of chemical energy?

• Water

• Wind

• Sunlight

• Food

What happens to the springs on a trampoline when someone jumps on it?

• They break and release energy

• They compress and lose energy

• They become static

• They stretch and store elastic potential energy

In which scenario is elastic potential energy stored?

• When a car is moving

• When a spring is compressed

• When a light bulb is on

• When a ball is rolling

What determines the amount of gravitational potential energy an object has?

• Its temperature and volume

• Its mass and height

• Its speed and direction

• Its color and shape

What happens to gravitational potential energy when you slide down a playground slide?

• It turns into chemical energy

• It remains constant

• It turns into kinetic energy

• It disappears

Why do objects fall towards the Earth?

• Because of nuclear forces

• Because of gravitational attraction

• Because of magnetic attraction

• Because of chemical reactions