Calculating energy changes - with complex examples (Ek and Ep)
I can use the principle of conservation of energy to calculate changes in energy of moving objects.
Calculating energy changes - with complex examples (Ek and Ep)
I can use the principle of conservation of energy to calculate changes in energy of moving objects.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Energy cannot be created or destroyed.
- In an ideal situation, no energy is dissipated.
- As an object changes height, change in gravitational potential energy = change in kinetic energy.
Keywords
Conservation of energy - The principle of conservation of energy states that the total amount of energy at the end of a process is always the same as the total amount of energy at the beginning.
Dissipate - Friction or air resistance can cause energy to dissipate into the surroundings as heat.
Gravitational potential energy - The energy an object has in its gravitational store is referred to as the object’s gravitational potential energy.
Kinetic energy - The energy an object has in its kinetic store is referred to as the object’s kinetic energy.
Common misconception
Energy can be lost or created in physical processes.
Always discuss how energy is dissipated to the surroundings when discussing energy transformations, even when dealing with ‘ideal situations’ in which there is no dissipation.
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
$$E_p$$ -
gravitational potential energy
$$m$$ -
mass
$$g$$ -
gravitational field strength
$$h$$ -
height
$$E_k$$ -
kinetic energy
$$v$$ -
speed
energy -
joules (J)
mass -
kilograms (kg)
speed -
metres per second (m/s)
gravitational field strength -
newtons per kilogram (N/kg)
height -
metres (m)