STANDARD 4 COMPONENT 10
Objective: a. Analyze the cyclic nature of potential and kinetic energy (e.g., a bouncing ball, a
pendulum).
Vocabulary
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
kinetic/mechanical energy : The energy an object has due to its motion.
energy : Ability to do work or cause change
gravitational potential energy : The energy stored in an object due to its height above the Earth
cyclic : The tendency of something to repeat over and over.
potential energy : Energy that is stored and available to be used later
Learning Activities
The Triangle of Doom Class Activity and Notes-See me for these.
Standard 4 COMPONENT 10 Essential Questions
1.) Describe how a pendulum shows the change from gravitational potential energy to kinetic energy.
2.) Fill out the similarity difference matrix below.
Definition
2 examples
Synonym/restate
Similarities
Kinetic Energy
Differences
Gravitational
Potential Energy
3.) If you dug a hole all the way through the Earth from one side to another and dropped a mass in one end
what would happen to the mass? How would it behave?
Standard 4 COMPONENT 10 Practice Vocabulary Quiz
1. The energy an object has due to its motion.
a. kinetic/mechanical energy
b. gravitational potential energy
c. cyclic
d. potential energy
2. Ability to do work or cause change
a. kinetic/mechanical energy
c. energy
b. gravitational potential energy
d. potential energy
3. The energy stored in an object due to its height (position) above the Earth
a. kinetic/mechanical energy
c. energy
b. gravitational potential energy
d. potential energy
4. The tendency of something to repeat over and over.
a. kinetic/mechanical energy
c. cyclic
b. gravitational potential energy
d. potential energy
5. Energy that is stored and available to be used later
a. kinetic/mechanical energy
c. cyclic
b. gravitational potential energy
d. potential energy
Standard 4 COMPONENT 10 Practice Content Quiz
1. Using the picture below. Where in the balls path is its potential energy the most?
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
2. Using the picture above. What is happening to the ball’s potential and kinetic energy between points “B” and
“C”?
a. potential energy is decreasing and kinetic energy is increasing
b. both kinetic and potential energy first increase then decrease
c. both kinetic and potential energy first decrease then increase
d. kinetic energy is decreasing and potential energy is increasing
3. Where is kinetic energy the greatest in the picture above?
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
4. Which statement best describes the energy conversions taking place as the ball is first tossed up and then comes
down?
a. kinetic and potential energy are equal going up and coming down
b. energy transfers from kinetic to potential and back to kinetic
c. energy transfers from potential to kinetic and back to potential
d. energy transfers back and forth between potential and kinetic going up and coming down
5. Use the pendulum to answer the following question. How much gravitational potential energy is contained at
position E?
a. 500 J
b. 375 J
c. 125 J
d. 0 J
Standard 4 COMPONENT 10 Essential Questions Key
1.) Describe how a pendulum shows the change from gravitational potential energy to kinetic energy. When the
pendulum is raised high it stores only gravitational potential energy. There is not kinetic because it is not moving yet.
When the pendulum is released and gains speed the gravitational energy decreases and is changed into kinetic
energy. As it moves faster there is less and gravitational because it is getting lower and going faster. However,
because of the increased speed the kinetic energy is increasing. This happens until it is at its lowest point, where it is
traveling the most, and has the most kinetic energy and no gravitational potential energy. The process is then
repeated as the pendulum swings forward and up on the other side. An important note is that if the pendulum is
considered frictionless then the kinetic added to the gravitational energy will always add up to the amount you
started with.
2.) Fill out the similarity difference matrix below.
Kinetic Energy
Definition
2 examples
The energy an
Moving car
object has due to its
Synonym/restate
Energy of motion,
the faster
Similarities
They are both types
of energy.
motion.
Gravitational
Potential Energy
Running person
The energy stored
in an object due to
its height above the
Earth
A rock perched high
on a cliff.
A skydiver about to
jump out of a plane
something is
moving the more
kinetic energy it
has.
Energy of height.
The higher
something is and
the larger it is the
more stored
gravitational energy
it has.
The pendulum has
some value for each
type of energy at
each position.
Differences
Kinetic is because of
the motion of mass
and gravitational
potential is because
of height.
3.) If you dug a hole all the way through the Earth from one side to another and dropped a mass in one end
what would happen to the mass? How would it behave? When you drop the mass in one of the holes it would
accelerate to the center of the Earth. It would then pass pst the center of the Earth, but begin to slow down as
it reached the other opening on the other side. At this point it would momentarily stop and then begin falling
back to the center of the Earth and repeat the process. Assuming no friction this cyclic falling back and forth
would continue for ever.
Standard 4 COMPONENT 10 Practice Vocabulary Quiz Key
1. The energy an object has due to its motion.
a. kinetic/mechanical energy
c. cyclic
b. gravitational potential energy
d. potential energy
2. Ability to do work or cause change
a. kinetic/mechanical energy
c. energy
b. gravitational potential energy
d. potential energy
3. The energy stored in an object due to its height (position) above the Earth
a. kinetic/mechanical energy
c. energy
b. gravitational potential energy
d. potential energy
4. The tendency of something to repeat over and over.
a. kinetic/mechanical energy
c. cyclic
b. gravitational potential energy
d. potential energy
5. Energy that is stored and available to be used later
a. kinetic/mechanical energy
c. cyclic
b. gravitational potential energy
d. potential energy
Standard 4 COMPONENT 10 Practice Content Quiz Key
1. Using the picture above. Where in the balls path is its potential energy the most?
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
2. Using the picture above. What is happening to the ball’s potential and kinetic energy between points “B” and
“C”?
a. potential energy is decreasing and kinetic energy is increasing
b. both kinetic and potential energy first increase then decrease
c. both kinetic and potential energy first decrease then increase
d. kinetic energy is decreasing and potential energy is increasing
3. Use the picture above. Where is kinetic energy the greatest?
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
4. Which statement best describes the energy conversions taking place as the ball is tossed up and comes down?
a. kinetic and potential energy are equal going up and coming down
b. energy transfers from kinetic to potential and back to kinetic
c. energy transfers from potential to kinetic and back to potential
d. energy transfers back and forth between potential and kinetic going up and coming down
5. Use the pendulum to answer the following question. How much gravitational potential energy is contained at
position E?
a. 500 J
b. 375 J
c. 125 J
d. 0 J