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Get Full AccessPotential vs. Kinetic Energy
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What you will learn from this videoWhat you will learn
- Kinetic energy is the energy of motion.
- Potential energy is stored in an object based on its position.
- Energy can change between potential and kinetic based on an object's motion.
- Discussion Questions
Before Video
How would you define energy?ANSWERAccept a range of answers. (e.g., do work; cause a change, hard to define)
Accept a range of answers. (e.g., position, transferred, converted, movement)
Accept a range of answers. (e.g., something wasn’t moving, then it moved; something is dropped; heat; light; sound; etc.)
Accept a range of answers. (e.g., motion to sound; motion to heat; electrical to light; electrical to heat; etc.)
Relating to motion.
Having the capacity; develop into something in the future.
After Video
What is the difference between kinetic and potential energy?ANSWERKinetic energy is energy of motion and potential energy is associated with the relative position of something.
Mass and speed.
The object’s position and its mass.
Potential energy is increased the more the spring is compressed. Once a person lets go of the spring, the potential energy is transformed to kinetic energy when the spring moves. (Students may also mention that some of the kinetic energy is converted to sound and heat.)
The speed of an object has a greater impact, because KE is proportional to ½ the mass of the object but to the speed squared.
You could move the object to greater height or distance or you could increase an object’s mass.
- Vocabulary
- Energy DEFINE
Energy makes stuff happen; although it is hard to define energy, we can describe how it behaves in systems and how it is manifested in phenomena. (Disciplinary Core Ideas, pg. 60)
- Kinetic Energy DEFINE
Energy of motion.
- Potential Energy DEFINE
Energy stored in an object based on its position.
- Gravity DEFINE
Force of attraction between any two masses.
- Energy Transfer DEFINE
Process where energy is moved from one place to another.
- Energy Conversion DEFINE
Process where there is a change in energy from one form to another.
- Kinetic Energy formula DEFINE
½ m X v2 (½ the mass times the velocity squared) which shows that the kinetic energy of an object is proportional to the mass and velocity of the object.
- Proportional DEFINE
(In mathematics) having a constant ratio to another quantity.
- Exponential growth DEFINE
Pattern of data that shows greater increase with passing time.
- Energy DEFINE
- Reading Material
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- Teacher Guide
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