Energy
What are some ways we use or see energy being used?
Some forms and uses of energy
What is energy?
• Energy is the ability to do work or cause
change.
• What types of energy do you see in this
photo?
•Nuclear energy (sun)
•Chemical energy (plants)
•Thermal energy (melting
snow)
•Mechanical energy (moving
water)
•Light energy (visible light)
Everything we do is connected to
energy use.
Energy is usually described as kinetic
or potential
Different forms of Energy
• Kinetic Energy- the energy an object has due
to its motion.
Kinetic energy increases when you
have more mass.
Which ball will
make a bigger
splash?
•The green ball
has more kinetic
energy because
it has more
mass.
•So it makes a
bigger splash!
Kinetic energy increases when you
have more speed
Will the ball go farther with a slow swing or a
fast swing? Why?
A fast swing has more speed, therefore, more
kinetic energy and the ball will go farther.
• Potential Energy- the energy an object has
stored, often due to its position.
Which skier has more potential
energy? Why?
Skier 1 has more
potential energy
because they are
at a higher
position than
skier 2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vl4g7T5gw1M
Roller Coasters use potential and kinetic
energy to create an exciting ride
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H5_jrwSA3w
Try it!
• Create a roller coaster with just the right
balance of potential and kinetic energy so it
doesn’t crash!
http://www.brainpop.com/games/coastercreator/
Is it Kinetic or Potential?
Classify the following as a type of potential energy
or kinetic energy (use the letters K or P)
1. A bicyclist pedaling up a hill
2. An archer with his bow drawn
3. A volleyball player spiking a ball
4. A baseball thrown to second base
5. The chemical bonds in sugar
6. The wind blowing through your hair
7. Walking down the street
8. Sitting in the top of a tree
9. A bowling ball rolling down the alley
10.A bowling ball sitting on the rack
What can you find in your home that are examples of
kinetic and potential energy? Name two for each type of
energy.
Kinetic Energy Lab
• You will be testing the factors that affect
kinetic energy by recording the distance a
marble will roll down a ramp.
– You will change its mass and its speed (angle of
the ramp) and describe how this affects its energy.
Kinetic Energy
• The faster an object moves, the more kinetic
energy it has.
• The greater the mass of a moving object, the
more kinetic energy it has.
• Kinetic energy depends on both mass and
velocity.
Potential Energy
• “The bigger they are the harder they fall” is not
just a saying. It’s true. Objects with more mass
have greater P.E.
• The formula to find P.E. is
P.E. = Weight X Height.
• http://vitalnj.pbslearningmedia.org/asset/mck
05_int_rollercoaster/
Energy forms and transformations
http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/energ
y-forms-and-changes
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/h
ew06.sci.phys.maf.trebuchet/energy-transferin-a-trebuchet/
Trebuchet potential into kinetic energy
How does the bulb light up?
What forms of energy are seen?
• The bulb gets its energy from the
battery.
• There is chemical energy in the
battery
• Electrical energy in the wires
• Thermal energy in the bulb
filament
• Light energy and thermal energy
seen from the bulb.
• Energy changes form to light the
bulb.