energy - kinetic and gravitational potential energy

Question 1

what is kinetic energy

Answer 1

any moving object has kinetic energy
KE increases with its speed

Question 2

what is the equation for kinetic energy

Answer 2

KE = 1/2 x mass x velocity^2
KE = 1/2mv^2

kinetic energy = joules
mass = kilograms
velocity = metres per second

Question 3

what is gravitational potential energy

Answer 3

the amount of energy stored in an object due to its height above the ground
the higher the object is, the more GPE it has

Question 4

what is the equation for GPE

Answer 4

GPE = mass x gravitational field strength x height
GPE = mgh

g = 9.8N/kg on earth but depends on the question

mass = kilograms
gravitational field strength = N/kg
height = metres

Question 5

KE and GPE of a simple pendulum practical

Answer 5

set up:
fix a weight to the end of a string with the other end clamped down securely

observe:
how the pendulum’s speed and height change linking to GPE and KE change

position fully swung to the left -
speed = zero
KE = zero
height = maximum
GPE = maximum

position swinging to the middle -
speed = increasing
KE =increasing
height = decreasing
GPE = decreasing

position in the middle -
speed = maximum
KE = maximum
height = zero/minimum
GPE = zero/minimum

position swinging to the right -
speed = decreasing
KE = decreasing
height = increasing
GPE = increasing

position fully swung to the right -
speed = zero
KE = zero
height = maximum
GPE = maximum

Question 6

graph of the pendulum’s energy against its position

Answer 6

total: straight across the top
kinetic energy: from origin, up to total then reflected
grav. potential energy: from (0, start of total) to the bottom then reflected