Energy – The ability to do work
Work – is done when a force
or to cause change or movement in
matter
moves an object through a distance
Kinetic Energy
Potential Energy
1. Is stored energy
2. Depends upon and object’s
mass and position
a. The larger an object’s
mass, the greater its PE
b. The higher up an object
is, the greater its PE
The more potential energy an object
has the more kinetic energy it will
have when moving.
Potential
energy is
transformed
into kinetic
energy as you
move.
1. Is energy in motion
2. KE depends on an object’s
mass and its speed
3. KE also depends on the
amount of stored energy
(PE) the object has
Energy is never created or
destroyed, only transformed.
1. Potential energy is energy that is stored.
2. An object can have potential energy because of its mass or position (height).
3. A sled at the top of a hill has potential energy because it could move with work.
4. Kinetic energy is the energy of moving objects.
5. The amount of kinetic energy an object has depends on its mass and speed.
6. A soccer ball sitting on the floor has no (zero) kinetic energy.
7. Which object has more kinetic energy, a bowling ball flying at 2mph or an eraser flying at 2 mph? Why?
A bowling ball has a greater mass than an eraser so the bowling ball has more kinetic energy at 2mph
8. True or False: Roller Coasters are a great example of energy changing from potential to kinetic, and
kinetic to potential.
9. If a softball were to fall on your head, would you want it to fall from 2 inches above your head or 2
miles above your head? 2 inches Why? The softball would have less kinetic energy falling from two
inches than it would falling from two miles
10. Label the roller coaster letters below with PE (potential energy) or KE (kinetic energy):
PE
PE
PE
KE
KE
KE