1. Roller Coaster Physics
Energy & Momentum

2. Types of Energy
Potential Energy
Kinetic Energy

3. Kinetic Energy
Kinetic is another word for motion or movement. Kinetic Energy is energy that is moving. Everything you see moving about has kinetic energy.  
Examples of Kinetic Energy:
Radiant Energy – kinetic energy that shows up as light, radio waves, and x-rays
Electrical Energy – kinetic energy that exists in the movement of electrical charges
Thermal Energy – kinetic energy that we call heat. Heat is caused by the rapid movement of vibrating molecules.
Sound – kinetic energy created when a force cause an object vibrate.

4. Kinetic Energy 100 km/hr 80 km/hr 100 km/hr
The greater the mass or velocity of a moving object, the more kinetic energy it has.
Greatest Kinetic Energy
100 km/hr
80 km/hr
100 km/hr
Least Kinetic Energy

5. Potential Energy
Potential energy has the ability to become kinetic energy. Potential energy is stored energy that will possibly become energy in motion.
Potential energy is known as the energy of position. The object’s power comes when a force is applied, generally the force of gravity.
Examples of Potential Energy:
Stored Mechanical Energy – When a rubber band is stretched, it has stored mechanical energy
Gravitational Energy – Before jumping from a diving board, a diver has a great deal of gravitational energy. The higher the diver starts, the greater the gravitational energy

6. Roller Coaster Energy 5 1 6 2 3 4 – Points of Potential Energy
– Points of Kinetic Energy

7. Conservation of Energy
Law of
Conservation of Energy
Energy can neither be created nor destroyed.
Energy is always changing from one kind to another. The total energy of an object never changes.
Potential energy + Kinetic energy = Total energy
Total energy – Kinetic energy = Potential energy
Total energy - Potential energy = Kinetic energy

8. Energy Lab Trial # PE (J) KE (J) Speed (cm/s) Momentum (g cm/s)
Data needed to collect:
Height (cm)
Distance traveled (cm)
Time
Mass (g)

9. Physics Formulas KE = (1/2)mv2 PE = mgh p = mv p = momentum m = mass
Energy:
p = mv
Momentum:
p = momentum
m = mass
v = velocity (speed)
h = height above ground
g = gravity = 9.8