AP Physics 1: Power and Conservation of Energy

Front

What is the principle of conservation of energy?

Back

The principle of conservation of energy states that the total energy in an isolated system remains constant; energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another.

Front

What is kinetic energy and how is it calculated?

Back

Kinetic energy is the energy of an object due to its motion, calculated using the formula KE = 1/2 mv², where m is the mass and v is the velocity of the object.

Front

What is potential energy and how is it calculated?

Back

Potential energy is the stored energy of an object due to its position or configuration, commonly calculated using the formula PE = mgh, where m is mass, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height above a reference point.

Front

How does energy transfer occur in a frictionless roller coaster?

Back

In a frictionless roller coaster, energy transfers from potential energy at the top of the hill to kinetic energy as the car descends, with the total mechanical energy remaining constant.

Front

What is the difference between power and work?

Back

Work is the energy transferred when a force is applied over a distance, while power is the rate at which work is done, calculated as Power = Work / Time.

Front

What is the formula for calculating power?

Back

Power can be calculated using the formula Power = Work / Time, where Work is measured in joules and Time in seconds.

Front

What happens to the total mechanical energy in a closed system?

Back

In a closed system, the total mechanical energy (the sum of potential and kinetic energy) remains constant, assuming no external forces do work on the system.

Front

What is the relationship between mass, velocity, and kinetic energy?

Back

Kinetic energy is directly proportional to the mass of the object and the square of its velocity; doubling the mass or increasing the velocity will increase the kinetic energy.

Front

What is the significance of a frictionless surface in energy conservation problems?

Back

A frictionless surface allows for the conservation of mechanical energy, as no energy is lost to friction, making it easier to analyze energy transformations.

Front

How do you calculate the speed of an object using kinetic energy?

Back

To find the speed of an object using kinetic energy, rearrange the kinetic energy formula: v = sqrt(2KE/m), where KE is kinetic energy and m is mass.