Potential and Kinetic Energy

Potential and Kinetic Energy
Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the formulas and applications of potential and kinetic energy.
2. Calculate unknowns for potential and kinetic energy in various scenarios.
3. Analyze energy transformation between potential and kinetic energy and interpret results.
4. Understand the concept of energy conservation in closed systems.
Part 1: Conceptual Discussion

What is Potential Energy (PE)?
Potential energy is the energy stored within an object due to its position or state. In physics, gravitational
potential energy, one of the most common forms, is energy an object possesses because of its height in a
gravitational field.
The formula for gravitational potential energy is:
PE=m⋅g⋅h
where:
• m = mass of the object in kilograms (kg)
• g = acceleration due to gravity, approximately 9.8 m/s² on Earth
• h = height of the object above a reference point in meters (m)
For example, a rock held at the top of a cliff has a certain amount of potential energy based on its mass
and height from the ground. This energy is "stored" and can be released when the rock is dropped, at
which point it begins converting to kinetic energy as it falls.
What is Kinetic Energy (KE)?
Kinetic energy is the energy an object has due to its motion. It depends on the mass and velocity of the
moving object. The formula for kinetic energy is:
KE=1/2mv2
where:
• m = mass in kilograms (kg)
• v = velocity of the object in meters per second (m/s)
The faster an object moves, the more kinetic energy it has. For instance, a car moving at high speed has
significantly more kinetic energy than one moving slowly.
Energy Conservation and Transformation
In an ideal system (without air resistance or friction), energy conservation dictates that the total
mechanical energy (sum of potential and kinetic energy) remains constant. This means that when an
object falls, its potential energy decreases while its kinetic energy increases, keeping the total energy
unchanged.
For example:
1. When an object is at rest at a height, it has maximum potential energy and zero kinetic energy.
2. As it begins to fall, potential energy is converted to kinetic energy.
3. At the lowest point, potential energy is minimized, while kinetic energy is maximized.
Part 2: Problem Sets with Solutions and Explanations
Problem 1: Calculating Potential Energy at Various Heights
Scenario: A 5 kg rock is held at different heights.
1. Calculate the potential energy of the rock at:
o Height h=20m
o Height h=10m
o Height h=5m
Solutions:
PE=m⋅g⋅h
Using m=5 kg and g=9.8 m/s2
• For h=20 m: PE=5⋅9.8⋅20=980 J
• For h=10 m: PE=5⋅9.8⋅10=490 J
• For h=5m: PE=5⋅9.8⋅5=245 J
Explanation: As height decreases, the potential energy decreases proportionally, illustrating that an
object’s potential energy is directly dependent on its height above a reference point.
Problem 2: Kinetic Energy at Different Speeds
Scenario: A 1000 kg car is moving at varying speeds. Calculate its kinetic energy at:
• v=10 m/s
• v=20 m/s
• v=30 m/s
Solutions:
Using m=1000 kg
• For v=10 m/s = 50,000J
• For v=20 m/s=200,000J
• For v=30 m/s =450,000J
Explanation: Kinetic energy is proportional to the square of the velocity. Therefore, doubling the speed
quadruples the kinetic energy, showing the non-linear relationship between speed and kinetic energy.
Problem 3: Energy Conservation in a Falling Object
Scenario: A 2 kg ball is dropped from a height of 50 meters. Calculate:
1. The potential energy at 50 meters.
2. The kinetic energy at 25 meters.
3. The velocity of the ball at 25 meters.
Solutions:
1. Initial Potential Energy at 50 meters: PE=m⋅g⋅h=2⋅9.8⋅50=980 J
2. Potential Energy at 25 meters: PE=2⋅9.8⋅25=490 J
3. Kinetic Energy at 25 meters: KE=Total Energy−Potential Energy=980−490=490 J
4. Velocity at 25 meters ≈ 22.14m/s
Explanation: The total energy remains constant (980 J). As the ball falls, potential energy is converted to
kinetic energy, exemplifying energy conservation.
Problem 4: Roller Coaster Energy Transformation
Scenario: A roller coaster car of mass 800 kg starts at 40 meters high with a speed of 5 m/s. Determine:
1. The total energy at the top.
2. The speed of the car at 10 meters, assuming no energy loss.
Solutions:
1. Total Energy at the Top (sum of PE and KE): PE=m⋅g⋅h = 313,600J
2. KE =323,600J
3. Total Energy at 10 meters: PE 10m =78,400J
4. KE10m=245,200J
5. Solving for v using KE ≈24.8m/s
Explanation: As the roller coaster descends, potential energy is converted into kinetic energy. The
constant total energy highlights energy conservation in the absence of external forces like friction.
Activity 1. Solve for the unknown:

1. A 250 J gravitational potential energy is observed in a 5 kg object. At what height above the ground is
the object located?
Answer: 5.1 m
2. A ball with a mass of 0.5 kg has a kinetic energy of 20 J. What is the ball’s speed?
Answer: 8.94 m/s
3. A 10 kg suitcase is lifted to a height of 2 meters, gaining 196 J of potential energy. What is the
acceleration due to gravity in this context?
Answer: 9.8 m/s²
4. An object has a kinetic energy of 500 J while moving at a speed of 20 m/s. What is the object’s mass?
Answer: 2.5 kg
5. A 3 kg rock has a potential energy of 294 J. If it was lifted on a different planet where gravity is
stronger, and its height is 7 meters, calculate the gravitational acceleration on this planet.
Answer: 14 m/s²
6. A cyclist and bicycle have a combined kinetic energy of 1,800 J and a total mass of 60 kg. What is their
velocity?
Answer: 7.75 m/s
7. A 15 kg crate is placed on a platform 10 meters high, and the gravitational potential energy is
calculated as 1,470 J. What is the gravitational acceleration acting on the crate?
Answer: 9.8 m/s²
8. A car moving at 30 m/s has a kinetic energy of 450,000 J. What is the car's mass?
Answer: 1,000 kg
9. A 2 kg object is dropped, and it reaches a speed of 6.26 m/s just before hitting the ground. What is its
kinetic energy at this point?
Answer: 39.2 J
10. A 4 kg box is lifted, resulting in a gravitational potential energy of 400 J. What height did it reach?
Answer: 10.2 m
11. A 2 kg ball is dropped from a height of 20 meters. Ignoring air resistance, calculate the ball’s kinetic
energy just before it hits the ground. ((Use g=9.8 m/s2.)
Answer: 392 J
12. A rock with a mass of 0.5 kg is dropped from a cliff. Just before hitting the ground, it has a kinetic
energy of 98 J. From what height was the rock dropped?
Answer: 20 m
13. An object with a mass of 3 kg is dropped from a certain height and has a speed of 12 m/s just before it
reaches the ground. Calculate the kinetic energy of the object at that moment.
Answer: 216 J
14. A 10 kg object falls freely from a height of 50 meters. Find its speed just before it hits the ground by
first calculating its kinetic energy upon impact. (Use g=9.8 m/s2.)
Answer: 31.3 m/s
15. A 4 kg object is dropped from a height of 10 meters. What is its kinetic energy just before it reaches
the ground? (Use g=9.8 m/s2.)
Answer: 392 J
Reflection Questions
1. What is the significance of height in potential energy calculations?
2. Why does kinetic energy increase faster with increasing speed?
3. How does energy conservation help us predict changes in a system?

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Part 1: Conceptual Discussion

Activity 1. Solve for the unknown:

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