Stored Energy: Potential Energy Flashcards
What is potential energy?
The energy stored in an object due to its position or condition.
What happens to a ball’s kinetic energy as it rolls down a hill?
It gains kinetic energy as it rolls down the hill.
What happens to a ball’s potential energy as it rolls down a hill?
Its potential energy decreases.
At the top of a hill, what is the ball’s potential energy?
At its maximum.
At the bottom of a hill, what is the ball’s potential energy?
At its minimum.
What is the law of conservation of energy?
The total amount of energy in a system does not change unless energy is added or removed.
What is gravitational potential energy?
The potential energy of an object due to its height or position relative to Earth’s surface.
What happens to a ball’s kinetic energy when it gains potential energy?
It loses kinetic energy.
What happens to water at the top of a waterfall?
It has its greatest gravitational potential energy.
