Potential & Kinetic Energy (Page 3 of 4) in pdf

Potential & Kinetic Energy Page 3

will come to a stop when all of the mechanical energy is transformed to thermal

energy by friction or to mechanical energy in the air by the air resistance on the

car.



 In the roller coaster diagram above, the car’s potential energy will be greatest at

the highest point, point A, and the kinetic energy will be the highest at the bottom

of the first hill, point B, where the car’s speed will be the greatest. As the car

travels through the rest of the hills, friction and air resistance will slow the car.

Each successive hill must be lower because of the energy that friction converts to

thermal energy.

 In a pendulum swinging back and forth, the potential energy is the greatest when

the pendulum is at the top of its swing, and the kinetic energy is greatest when it

is moving the fastest at the bottom of its swing. At the top of the swing, the

kinetic energy is reduced to zero, when the pendulum stops momentarily as it

changes its direction of motion.

Practice Questions

The ability to do work or cause change is called ________________.

The two main categories of energy are ___________________ energy (stored

energy) and __________________________ energy (energy presently doing

work or causing change).

The form of energy that is found in large moving objects is

______________________ __________________ energy.

The form of energy that is stored in large objects because of its position above

the ground is ______________________ _________________ energy.

Potential & Kinetic Energy Page 3