Potential and Kinetic Energy

What is potential energy? What is kinetic energy?

Copy the definitions onto your paper:

Potential energy (PE) is “stored” energy

• • There are a few types of potential energy: gravitational, elastic, etc

  • All of them involve the object’s mass and position

Kinetic energy (KE) is “moving” energy

• There are many forms of kinetic energy: vibrational, rotational, translational, etc.

• All of them involve a moving object with mass

Watch these videos about Rollercoaster Physics

What do Potential and Kinetic Energy have to do with roller coasters?

• Energy while riding a rollercoaster.

• Then, explain what potential and kinetic energy have to do with roller coasters.

• Consider explaining what you think you will see that in your own model coaster.

Look at the gif below.

You Try It

• Think you got it? On your paper, draw a rollercoaster and  label where on your roller coaster is the most KE, least KE, most PE, and least PE. Get this checked by your teacher to make sure you are understanding it correctly.

Can you do the math? Practice some of these problems.

• 1. A 12 kg dog is running at a velocity of 5 m/s. How much kinetic energy does it have?

  2. If you lift a 50 N watermelon to the top of a 2 m fridge, how much potential energy does it have?

  3. A 5000 kg truck is moving at a velocity of 30 m/s. How much kinetic energy does it have?

  4. Your angry teacher is holding a 1 N book over your head at a height of 0.5 m. How much potential energy does the book have?

Consider getting your work checked.

Move on to "Conservation of Energy"