Kinetic and Potential Energy

Front

What is Kinetic Energy?

Back

Kinetic Energy is the energy an object possesses due to its motion. It depends on the mass of the object and the speed at which it is moving.

Front

What is Potential Energy?

Back

Potential Energy is the stored energy in an object due to its position or state. It is often associated with the height of an object above the ground.

Front

How does height affect Potential Energy?

Back

The higher an object is, the more Potential Energy it has. This is because Potential Energy is calculated as PE = mgh (mass x gravity x height).

Front

What happens to Potential Energy as an object falls?

Back

As an object falls, its Potential Energy decreases while its Kinetic Energy increases.

Front

What is the relationship between Kinetic Energy and speed?

Back

The faster an object moves, the more Kinetic Energy it has. Kinetic Energy is calculated as KE = 1/2 mv² (1/2 x mass x speed squared).

Front

At which point on a roller coaster is Kinetic Energy the highest?

Back

Kinetic Energy is highest at the lowest points of the roller coaster where the speed is greatest.

Front

At which point on a roller coaster is Potential Energy the highest?

Back

Potential Energy is highest at the highest points of the roller coaster where the height is greatest.

Front

What is the formula for calculating Kinetic Energy?

Back

The formula for Kinetic Energy is KE = 1/2 mv², where m is mass and v is velocity.

Front

What is the formula for calculating Potential Energy?

Back

The formula for Potential Energy is PE = mgh, where m is mass, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is height.

Front

What happens to Kinetic Energy at the peak of a roller coaster?

Back

At the peak of a roller coaster, Kinetic Energy is at its minimum because the speed is lowest.