Forms of Energy

SCIENVP 3rd Term 2016

Lecture 2

Kinetic and
Potential
Kinetic Energy - associated
with the MOTION of an object
Potential Energy associated
with the POSITION of an
object

Translational Kinetic
Energy2
K = mv
2

m = mass (kg)
velocity (m/s)

v=

What is the unit of Kinetic Energy?

K = [kg] [m/s]2 = kg m2
kg m

s2
s2
K = kg m m = N m = Joules
s2

Note: Newton =

Translational Kinetic
Energy calculations
Determine the kinetic energy of a 625-kg roller
coaster car that is moving with a speed of 18.3
m/s.
If the roller coaster car in the above problem
were moving with twice the speed, then what
would be its new kinetic energy?

Answers
K = 0.5*m*v2
K = (0.5) * (625 kg) * (18.3
m/s)2
K = 1.05 x105 Joules
If the speed is doubled, then the KE is
quadrupled. Thus,
K = 4 * (1.04653 x 105 J) = 4.19 x 105 Joules.
or
K = 0.5*m*v2
K = 0.5*625 kg*(36.6 m/s)2
K = 4.19 x 105 Joules

Gravitational Potential
Energy
U = mgh
m = mass (kg)
g = 9.8 m/s2

h = height (m)

What is the unit of Potetial Energy?

U = [kg] [m][m/s2] =

Note: Newton = kg m

s2
U = kg m m = N m = Joules
s2

Gravitational Potential
Energy Calculations
A cart is loaded with a brick
and pulled at constant
speed along an inclined
plane to the height of a
seat-top. If the mass of the
loaded cart is 3.0 kg and the
height of the seat top is
0.45 meters, then what is
the potential energy of the
loaded cart at the height of
the seat-top?
Imgae from:http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/energy/Lesson-1/PotentialEnergy

Answer
U = m*g*h
U = (3 kg ) * (9.8 m/s/s) * (0.45 m)
U = 13.2 J

Gravitational
Potential Energy
Calculations
Knowing that the potential energy at the top of the
tall platform is 50 J, what is the potential energy at
the other positions shown on the stair steps and
the incline?

Answer

A: 40 J (since the same mass is elevated to 4/5-ths

height of the top stair)
B: 30 J (since the same mass is elevated to 3/5-ths
height of the top stair)
C: 20 J (since the same mass is elevated to 2/5-ths
height of the top stair)
D: 10 J (since the same mass is elevated to 1/5-ths
height of the top stair)
E and F: 0 J (since the same mass is at the same
zero height position as shown for the bottom
stair).

Mechanical
Energy
E = K + U
Mechanical energy is the energy that is
possessed by an object due to its motion
or due to its position

Conservation of Mechanical
Energy
E1 = E2
K1 + U1 = K2 + U2

Other Forms of
Energy
Group Activity

Group Project
Topics
Choose any topic related to Energy, Environment and
Climate.
Sample Topics:
Sources of Energy: Nuclear Power, Wind, Hydroelectric, Solar,
Fossil Fuels (Benefits and Environmental Impacts)
Energy Saving Strategies (new and existing technologies)
Greenhouse gases (How to reduce emissions)
Climate Change
Extreme Weather
Air, Water Quality and Pollution

Choose a more specific topic

Discuss with group and submit in a half sheet of paper your
suggested topic, name of group members