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