GRAVITATIONAL POTENTIAL & KINETIC ENERGY Energy & Transformations GRAVITATIONAL POTENTIAL & KINETIC ENERGY
Gravitational Potential Energy The type of energy possessed by an object because of its height above ground. Calculated by: Units of GPE are Joules (J). Where: EG=Gravitational Potential Energy (J) m = mass (kg) h= height (m)
Example 1 Calculate the gravitational potential energy of a 15kg object 2.3m above the ground.
1 G R F m = 15 kg h = 2.3m EG EG = mgh S ∴ The object has a potential energy of 338.1 J
Kinetic Energy The type of energy due to an object’s motion. Calculated by: Units of Kinetic Energy are Joules (J). Where: EK= Kinetic Energy (J) m = mass (kg) v= velocity (m/s)
Example #2 What is the mass of a bullet traveling at 360 km/h with 750 J of kinetic energy?
2 G R F EK = 750 J v = 360 km/h = 100 m/s m EK = ½mv2 S ∴ The bullet has a mass of 0.15kg
Mechanical Energy The sum of gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy. Law of conservation of energy: “Energy cannot be created nor destroyed”. Therefore: Where 1 is the initial state, 2 is the final state. *EM = Mechanical energy (J)
Example #3 What is the final speed of a ball, dropped from a height of 10 m?
3 G R F h1 = 10m v2 EG = mgh EK = ½mv2 S ∴ The ball hits the ground with a speed of 14 m/s.