There are many forms of energy.

Two of the most

important forms are stored energy (called
potential energy) and movement energy (called
kinetic energy)
Name the energies stored in these sketches.
Now make a list of all the different energies you
can think of.
1
The stretched string in a bow has elastic
potential energy, while a stone on top of Table
Mountain has gravitational potential energy.
Things that have potential energy stored in them can
exert a force on something else and cause them to
move or change in some way.
Something moving has kinetic energy the arrow.
Potential energy
2
The gravitational potential energy of an
object is that energy it has by virtue of its
position in a field relative to some other
reference point.
A stone on the top of
table mountain has
gravitational potential
energy. If pushed it
has the ability to role
all the way down to
the bottom of the
mountain.
Ep for an object & variables
3
The kinetic energy of an object is the energy
possessed by virtue of its motion.

A moving ball, arrow or car has kinetic
energy by virtue of the fact that they are
moving relative to some point of reference.

The objects mass and velocity play a role in
finding the kinetic energy.
4
The mechanical energy of an object is the sum of
its gravitational potential energy & kinetic
energy.

For example a plane has both kinetic energy (it is
moving forward) and gravitational potential
energy (has height above the ground).

Its mechanical energy = gravitational potential
energy + kinetic energy
Conservation of
mechanical energy
5
The gravitational potential energy (E
p
) of an
object is determined by its mass, gravity and
height above the ground. Its formula is:
E
p
= m x g x h or just E
p
= mgh
The kinetic energy E
k
of an object is determined
by its mass and velocity. Its formula is:
E
k
= x m x v
2
or just E
k
= mv
2
Mechanical energy is the sum of the kinetic and
potential energy of a body.
E
mec
. = E
p
+ E
k
(Energy is measured in J).
6
Energy can only be converted from one form to
another i.e. from potential energy into kinetic
energy & vice versa:
Law of Conservation of Energy.
The total amount of energy in a system remains
constant meaning that, in the absence of air
friction, the Mechanical energy of an object
moving in the Earths gravitational field is
constant (conserved) i.e. as the one decreases, so
the other will increase proportionally.
E
mec
. = E
p
+ E
k

7
Energy is measured in joules (J).
Friction is the force that opposes the
motion of an object and acts in the
opposite direction to that of the motion.
Energy is required to
overcome the friction.
Motion
8
A bullet rises to a max. E
p
at the top of
its flight, with E
k
= 0 J.
On the way down E
p
decreases and E
k
increases proportionally (ignoring
friction) until E
p
= 0 J back at start and
E
k
= max.
The whole time E
mec.
= E
p
+ E
k
for the
complete up & down motion (provided
friction is ignored) for each stage of the
tragectory.
9
A 1 kg sphere swings
from a 2 m string
attached to the ceiling.
At A & C
max. Ep & min Ek.
At B
max. Ek & min. Ep
Ep at A & C = Ek at B
i.e. mgh = mv
2
A
B
C
h
Determine the
velocity at B if
h = 1,5 m.
Ep to Ek
Ep & Ek in pendulum
Life on the line!
10
A plane has a mass of 5000 kg
and is flying at 50 m.s
-1
at an
altitude of 3000 m.
Find:
1. Its E
p
.
2. Its E
k
and
3. Its mechanical energy E
mec
.
Roller coaster calculation
11