Energy!
What is energy?
• Energy is the ability to cause change
• When an object has energy, it can make things
happen or do work
Kinetic Energy
• Kinetic energy is the energy an object has due
to its motion or movement
• If an object isn’t moving, it doesn’t have any
kinetic energy
• For example, when you go bowling, the
bowling ball has lots of kinetic energy as it
rolls down the lane
Kinetic Energy and Speed
• The faster something moves, the more kinetic
energy it has
• For example, if a professional baseball pitcher
throws a baseball, it will have a lot more
kinetic energy than if Ms. Alison throws it.
• Ms. Alison is not very good at baseball 
Kinetic Energy and Mass
• The more mass an object has, the more
kinetic energy it has
• For example, a rolling bowling ball will have a
greater kinetic energy than a volleyball rolled
at the same exact speed. That’s because the
bowling ball has more mass than the
volleyball.
Lower mass
•
Higher mass
Potential Energy
• Potential energy is the stored energy an object
has because of its position
• For example, a roller coaster has a lot of
potential energy when it reaches the top of
the ride. That’s because of the position it’s in
(high up, far away from ground level)
• The higher up an object is, the more potential
energy it has.
• Also, the more mass an object has, the more
potential energy it has.
• For example, a huge truck at the top of a hill
will have more potential energy than a bicycle
on top of the hill. That’s because the truck has
more mass than the bicycle.
• Let’s see if you’ve understood the past couple
of lessons!
• A soccer ball rolling across the field is an
example of…
Kinetic energy
• A book sitting on top of a bookshelf is an
example of…
Potential
energy
• Which would have more kinetic energy?
A) A football thrown at 5 miles per hour
B) A football thrown at 25 miles per hour
Answer: B
Pick the item that would have more kinetic and
potential energy:
A) A dictionary falling out of a third floor
window
B) An empty crayon box falling out of a third
floor window
Answer: A
When would our science text book have more
potential energy?
A) When it is on top of a table that is three feet
high
B) When it is on top of a bookshelf that is 8 feet
high
Answer: B
Bonus question:
• When will the potential energy of the football
below change into kinetic energy?
Answer: Once the football is
thrown and starts moving.