Section 1 Changing Energy Unit 1 Energy Section 1 Changing Energy

I) Potential and Kinetic Energy

A) Energy is the ability to cause changes in matter

1) An object that has energy can apply a force over a distance

B) Law of conservation of energy: the total amount of energy is always the same – energy cannot be created or destroyed

1) Example: lamp, electrical energy is turned into light energy

C) Kinetic Energy: energy of motion, the ability to exert a force on matter that comes into contact with it

1) the faster the object is moving the greater its kinetic energy, the greater its mass the greater its kinetic energy.

2) a bowling ball and tennis ball moving at the same speed have different kinetic energies ( the bowling ball has greater mass)

D) Potential Energy: the energy that is due to the position or condition of an object STORED ENERGY

1) objects lifted higher up have greater potential energy

a) the energy used to lift the object is equal to the potential energy in the object

b) as an object falls its potential energy is converted into kinetic energy

c) the closer an a falling object is to the ground the less potential energy it has and the greater kinetic energy (speed) it has

2) battery is stored chemical energy (chemical to electrical energy)

3) compressed spring is stored energy, as it expands it releases mechanical energy

4) water behind a dam is stored energy, the dam opens the water is released changing the energy to mechanical energy

E) Potential energy can be changed to Kinetic Energy and Kinetic Energy can be changed to Potential energy

1) example bouncing ball while falling its gaining Kinetic Energy while rising its gaining Potential energy