Kinetic Energy and Potential Energy Test Study Guide

Question 1

Energy production from fossil fuels

Answer 1

• Fossil fuels are a non-renewable energy resource that can be used to produce electricity when it is burned.
• Fossil fuels include: natural gas, oil, and coal
• When the fuel is burned, the heat turns water into steam which turns the blades of a turbine.
• The turbine is connected to a generator that converts the mechanical energy into electrical energy

Question 2

Energy production from water

Answer 2

• Water is a renewable resource that can be used to create electricity such as the Hoover Dam.
• When the water is released downward towards a turbine, the GPE is converted to kinetic energy and spins the turbine.
• The turbine is connected to a generator that converts the mechanical energy to electrical energy

Question 3

Energy production from wind

Answer 3

• Wind is a renewable energy resource that is used for energy, such as in the Alta Wind Energy Center in California, the world’s largest wind farm.
• As the wind blows past the blades of the turbine, the wind is transferred. Inside the column of the turbine, there is a drive shaft which is connected to a generator.
• As the blades spin, it spins the drive shaft that is connected to a generator. The kinetic energy (mechanical energy) turns into electric energy!

Question 4

Energy production from the sun

Answer 4

• Solar energy that is produced when photons that are contained in sunlight are absorbed by specially designed plates that are angled towards the sun.
• When the photons hit the solar panels, charged particles are free to move which causes a current to be produced. This current is converted to usable energy by the home.
• Solar energy is converted to electrical energy

Question 5

Work Equation

Answer 5

• w = e ⁱⁿⁱᵗⁱᵃˡ - e ᶠⁱⁿᵃˡ
• 1 joule = 1 newton-meter

Question 6

GPE equation + KE equation

Answer 6

• GPE = mgh
  GPE = (kg)(9.8 m/s) (m)
• KE = ½ mv2
  (Kinetic E: (0.5) (mass) (v x v)

Question 7

Mechanical Energy

Answer 7

• the energy of an object due to its motion and position
• usually used to describe large objects
• It is the sum of kinetic and potential energy

Question 8

Non-Mechanical Energy

Answer 8

• the energy of an object that is NOT due to its motion or position
• usually used to describe an object at it’s atomic level
• Ex: Electrical energy, chemical energy, thermal energy, sound energy

Question 9

Elastic Potential Energy

Answer 9

The more elastic a material is, the more elastic potential energy the object has

Question 10

Gravitational Potential Energy

Answer 10

• Gravitational potential energy is due to elevated positions
• Gravitational potential energy is used at a later time to cause an object to move
• Once a person steps off a diving board, the gravitational potential energy is converted into kinetic energy and the person falls (moves)