Introduction to Energy

WHAT IS ENERGY? Motion is the movement of objects and substances

Energy makes change; it does things for us. It moves from one place to another. Objects and substances
cars along the road and boats over the water. It bakes move when a force is applied according to Newton’s
a cake in the oven and keeps ice frozen in the freezer. Laws of Motion. Wind is an example of motion energy.
It plays our favorite songs on the radio and lights
POTENTIAL ENERGY
our homes. Energy makes our bodies grow and allows
Potential energy is stored energy and the energy of
our minds to think. Scientists define energy as the
position, or gravitational energy. There are several
ability to do work.
forms of potential energy.
FORMS OF ENERGY Chemical Energy is energy stored in the bonds of
Energy is found in different forms, such as light, heat, atoms and molecules. It is the energy that holds
sound, and motion. There are many forms of energy, these particles together. Biomass, petroleum, natural
but they can all be put into two categories: kinetic gas, and propane are examples of stored chemical
and potential. energy.
KINETIC ENERGY Stored Mechanical Energy is energy stored in
Kinetic energy is motion; it is the motion of waves, objects by the application of a force. Compressed
electrons, atoms, molecules, substances, and springs and stretched rubber bands are examples
objects. of stored mechanical energy.
Electrical Energy is the movement of electrons. Nuclear Energy is energy stored in the nucleus of
Everything is made of tiny particles called atoms. an atom; it is the energy that holds the nucleus
Atoms are made of even smaller particles called together. The energy can be released when the nuclei
electrons, protons, and neutrons. Applying a force are combined or split apart. Nuclear power plants
can make some of the electrons move. Electrons split the nuclei of uranium atoms in a process called
moving through a wire is called circuit electricity. fission. The sun combines the nuclei of hydrogen
Lightning is another example of electrical energy. atoms in a process called fusion.
Radiant Energy is electromagnetic energy that
travels in transverse waves. Radiant energy includes
visible light, x-rays, gamma rays, and radio waves.
Light is one type of radiant energy. Solar energy is
an example of radiant energy.
Thermal Energy, or heat, is the internal energy in
substances; it is the vibration and movement of the
atoms and molecules within substances. The more
thermal energy in a substance, the faster the atoms
and molecules vibrate and move. Geothermal energy
is an example of thermal energy.
Sound is the movement of energy through
substances in longitudinal (compre ssio n/
rarefaction) waves. Sound is produced when a force
causes an object or substance to vibrate; the energy
is transferred through the substance in a
longitudinal wave.
Gravitational Energy is the energy of position or Your body isn’t very efficient at
place. A rock resting at the top of a hill contains converting food into useful work. Your
gravitational potential energy. Hydropower, such as body is less than five percent efficient
water in a reservoir behind a dam, is an example of most of the time. The rest of the
gravitational potential energy. energy is lost as heat. You can really
feel that heat when you exercise!
CONSERVATION OF ENERGY
To scientists, conservation of energy is not saving SOURCES OF ENERGY
energy. The law of conservation of energy says that We use many different energy sources to do work for
energy is neither created nor destroyed. When we us. They are classified into two groups—renewable
use energy, it doesn’t disappear. We change it from and nonrenewable.
one form of energy into another. In the United States, most of our energy comes from
A car engine burns gasoline, converting the chemical nonrenewable energy sources. Coal, petroleum,
energy in gasoline into mechanical energy. Solar cells natural gas, propane, and uranium are nonrenewable
change radiant energy into electrical energy. Energy energy sources. They are used to make electricity,
changes form, but the total amount of energy in the heat our homes, move our cars, and manufacture all
universe stays the same. kinds of products. These energy sources are called
nonrenewable because their supplies are limited.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY Petroleum, for example, was formed millions of years
Energy efficiency is the amount of useful energy you ago from the remains of ancient sea plants and
get from a system. A perfect energy-efficient machine animals. We can’t make more crude oil deposits in
would change all the energy put in it into useful a short time.
work—a technological impossibility today. Renewable energy sources include biomass,
Converting one form of energy into another form geothermal energy, hydropower, solar energy, and wind
always involves a loss of usable energy. energy. They are called renewable because they are
Most energy transformations are not very efficient. replenished in a short time. Day after day, the sun
The human body is a good example. Your body is shines, the wind blows, and the rivers flow. We use
like a machine, and the fuel for your machine is food. renewable energy sources mainly to make electricity.
Food gives you the energy to move, breathe, and think.
ELECTRICITY
Electricity is different from
the other energy sources
because it is a secondary
source of energy. We must
use another energy source
to produce electricity. In
the U.S., coal is the number
one energy source used for
generating electricity.
Electricity is sometimes
called an energy carrier
because it is an efficient
and safe way to move
energy from one place to
another, and it can be used
for so many tasks. As we
use more technology, the
demand for electricity
grows.

FORMS OF ENERGY
 Fill in the blanks with the words at the bottom of the page. You can use words more than once.

1. Stored energy and the energy of position are energy.

2. Compressed springs and stretched rubber bands are stored energy.

3. The vibration and movement of the atoms and molecules within substances is called

heat or energy.

4. The energy stored in the center of atoms is called energy.

5. The scientific rule that states that energy cannot be created or destroyed is called the

Law of --------------------

6. The movement of energy through substances in longitudinal waves is _

7. The energy of position- such as a rock on a hill- is energy.

8. The movement of objects and substances from place to place is _

9. Electromagnetic energy traveling in transversa waves is energy.

1O. Energy stored in the bonds of atoms and molecules is energy.

11. The movement of atoms, molecules, waves, and electrons is energy.

12. The movement of electrons is energy.

13. The amount of useful energy you get from a system is its _

14. The energy in petroleum and coal is stored as energy.

15. X-rays are an example of energy.

16. Fission and fusion are examples of energy.

17. A hydropower reservoiris an example of energy.

18. Wind is an example of the energy of _

radiant gravitational chemical thermal nuclear electrical mechanical

kinetic potential sound motion conservation of energy energy efficiency
 POTENTIAL AND KINETIC ENERGY

EXERCISES:

1) Calculate the kinetic energy of a 1500 kg car moving at a speed of 60 m/s.

Answer: 2700000 J

2) A ball of mass 0.5 kg has 100 J of kinetic energy. What is the speed of the ball?
Answer:

3) An object of mass 6 kg has a speed of 5 m/s.

a) What is its kinetic energy?
b) What is its kinetic energy if its speed is doubled?
Answers: 75J, 200 J

4) The kinetic and potential energies of a 6 kg object freely falling at 5 m/s from a height of 2 m is… Find
out.
Answers: 75 J, 117.6 J

5) An object has a mass of 6 kg. What is its gravitational potential energy,

a) 4 m above the ground?
b) 6 m above the ground?
Answers: 235.2 J, 352.8 J

6) At which height does a mass of 2 kg have to be to acquire a potential energy of 125 J?

Answers: 6.37 m

7) A tennis ball is dropped from a height of 2 m. At what speed does it hit the ground?
Answers: -6.26 m/s

8) A ball has a mass of 0.5 kg. Dropped from a cliff top, the ball hits the sea below at a speed of 10 m/s.
a) What is the kinetic energy of the ball as it is about to hit the sea?
b) What was the ball’s gravitational potential energy before it was dropped?
c) From what height was the ball dropped?
Answers: 25 J, 25 J, 5.1 m

9) If we drop to the floor a stone which has a mass of 4 kg from a height of 4 m,

a) What is its kinetic energy when it has fallen half-way to the ground?
b) What is its speed when it reaches the floor?
Answers: 78.4 J, -8.85 m/s

10) Consider again the example of dropping a ball whose mass is 0.2 kg. Calculate the gravitational energy
lost by the ball upon falling 3 m.
Answers: -58.8 J, -7.7 m/s

11) Use conservation of energy to predict the speed of a dropped object that has fallen a distance of half a
meter.
Answers: -3.13 m/s

12) Imagine dropping a mass of 1000 kg from a plane when it is at a height of 800 m. Find out its kinetic and
potential energy:
a) At the exact moment of dropping it.
b) When the object has fallen 430 m.
Answers: 0, 7840000 J, 4124000 J, 3626000 J
13) Imagine dropping a stone whose mass is 10 kg from a height of 500 m.
a) Calculate its energy at the highest point. Which type is it?
b) Calculate its kinetic energy when hits the floor.
Answers: 49000 J, 49000 J

14) Imagine dropping a stone whose mass is 5 kg from a height of 200 m.

a) Calculate its potential energy at the highest point.
b) Calculate its kinetic energy when it hits the floor.
Answers: 9800 J, 9800 J

15) Imagine dropping a mass from a plane flying at a speed of 900 km/h when it is at a height of 3 km. Find
out its speed when it hits the floor.
Answers: -242.5 m/s

16) Imagine dropping a ball of 500 g from window situated 30 m above the floor. Find out:
a) Its potential energy when it is dropped.
b) Its kinetic energy when it hits the floor.
c) Its speed when it hits the floor.
Answers: 147 J, 147 J, -24.25 m/s

17) Imagine dropping a stone of 1 kg from a height of 50 m. Find out:

a) Its potential energy when it is dropped.
b) Its speed when it is 20 m above the floor.
c) Its kinetic energy when it is 20 m above the floor.
d) Its kinetic energy when it hits the floor.
Answers: 490 J, -24.25 m/s, 294 J, 490 J

18) A roller-coaster is essentially motionless at the top of a hill. It then coasts downward falling a vertical
distance of 20 m. How fast is it going at the bottom of the hill?
Answers: -19.8 m/s

19) In a roller-coaster the cars are released from rest at a height of 50 m. What is the speed of the cars at
a) The bottom?
b) The top of the loop?
Answers: -31.3 m/s, 0

20) At the top of a roller-coaster there is a car whose mass is 100 kg at a height of 40 m with a speed of 5
m/s. Calculate its kinetic energy when the car is at a height of 20 m.
Answers: 20850 J
21) Imagine throwing down a stone at a speed of 20 m/s from the top of a 100 m cliff. How fast will the stone
be going when it hits the ground below the cliff?
Answers: -48.5 m/s

22) Imagine throwing a stone straight up into the air at a speed of 25 m/s. How high will it go before it runs
out of kinetic energy?
Answers: 31.8 m/s

23) Imagine throwing a stone of 500 g straight up into the air from a window situated 15 m above the floor at
a speed of 20 m/s. Find out:
a) Its mechanical energy when it is thrown.
b) The highest point it will reach.
c) Its speed when it hits the floor.
Answers: 173.5 J, 35.4 J, -26.34 m/s
Energy is the capacity of an object to transform the world which surrounds it. Its unit is the joule.

Principle of Conservation of energy:

Energy can be transferred from one form to another, but it cannot be created or destroyed. The total amount of
energy always stays the same.

KINETIC ENERGY (due to motion)

We call the energy a body possesses because it moves kinetic energy. The kinetic energy of a body depends on
its mass and its velocity according to the expression:

The velocity of a body gives it the capacity to transform its environment. This capacity is its kinetic energy and
it depends on the square of its velocity and its mass.

POTENTIAL ENERGY (due to the position of the object)

The fact that they are under the influence of the gravitational field gives objects the capacity to fall.

Gravitational potential energy is due to the capacity of objects to fall. Its source is the existence of the earth's
gravitational field. Its magnitude is directly proportional to the height at which the object is found, with respect
to a determined reference point which we situate on the surface of the earth, and the mass of the object. Its
mathematical expression is:
MECHANICAL ENERGY

There are many more types of energy: chemical, nuclear, electric.... However, the two which we have talked
about are part of everyday phenomena. We are going to study a situation where objects only possess two types
of energy: FREE FALL.

The sum of the kinetic and potential energy of an object is called Mechanical Energy.

THE PRINCIPLE OF THE CONSERVATION OF MECHANICAL ENERGY

The sum of the kinetic and potential energy of a freely falling object remains constant at any instant.