Types of Energy

Question 1

Gravitational potential energy (GPE)

Answer 1

1. Gravitational potential energy is the energy due to the gravitational force
2. Objects that attract by gravity have a higher GPE when they are farther apart and a lower GPE when they are closer together.

Question 2

Electrical potential energy (EPE)

Answer 2

Electrical potential energy is the energy due to the electrostatic force

Question 3

How do the charges of an object affect the amount of electrostatic force?

Answer 3

1. Objects that attract by the electrostatic force (opposite charges) have a higher EPE when they are farther and a lower EPE when they are closer
2. Objects that repel by the electrostatic force (like charges) have a higher EPE when they are close and a lower EPE when they are farther.

Question 4

Intermolecular forces

Answer 4

Matter holds together because of the intermolecular forces between the atoms and molecules called the intermolecular force.

Question 5

Thermal potential energy

Answer 5

Thermal potential energy is the energy due to the intermolecular force. When the thermal potential energy of an object changes, the object changes phase.

Question 6

What is the thermal kinetic energy when matter is in different phases?

Answer 6

Solid-little Liquid-some Gas-most

Question 7

System

Answer 7

A system is an organized group of related objects or components

Question 8

Component

Answer 8

Components are the parts of a system

Question 9

Closed System

Answer 9

Where no components can enter or leave the system

Question 10

Open system

Answer 10

Where components can enter or leave the system

Question 11

What are the three properties that are conserved?

Answer 11

1. Mass
2. Energy
3. Charge

Question 12

Law of Conservation of Energy

Answer 12

Energy cannot be destroyed or created, but it can change forms

Question 13

Uncontrolled system

Answer 13

An uncontrolled system is where energy is allowed to transfer and flow without being directed in any particular way. Energy in an uncontrolled system is free to move and tends to flow toward a more stable state.

Question 14

When is a system more stable?

Answer 14

1. The total potential energy gets lower

2. The energy is more evenly distributed

Question 15

Uneven distribution of energy

Answer 15

When energy is unevenly spread out in a system it tends to become more evenly distributed over time.

Question 16

Uniform distribution of energy

Answer 16

When energy is uniformly distributed in a system the system is in a stable state.

Question 17

Uncontrolled systems and disorder

Answer 17

Over time, uncontrolled systems tend to become less organized. This is because a less organized system is more uniform and in a more stable state.

Question 18

Entropy

Answer 18

Entropy is the tendency for an uncontrolled system to increase in disorder over time.

Question 19

Elastic

Answer 19

An elastic object deforms but returns to its original shape when it is released because of a restoring force.

Question 20

Elastic potential energy

Answer 20

1. Elastic potential energy is the energy an elastic object has due to being stretched or repressed against the object’s restoring force.
2. The more an object is stretched or repressed the higher it’s elastic potential energy.

Question 21

Linear motion

Answer 21

linear motion is motion in a line, from one place to another. Measured in speed, in units of m/s.

Question 22

Rotational motion

Answer 22

Rotational motion is spinning motion. Rotational motion is measured by rotational speed, in units of RPM or radians/sec.

Question 23

Thermal motion

Answer 23

Thermal motion is the vibration of particles. Thermal motion is measured by temperature, in the units of Celsius or Kelvin. Higher temperature means the particles vibrate faster, having more thermal motion.